Nutrition and appetite control: implications for the regulation of body weight

There is an important relationship between the expression of human appetite and the macro nutrient composition of the prevailing diet. Evidence indicates a correlation between the amount of fat consumed and body weight gain or the degree of adiposity. The pattern of eating behaviour is represented by the size and number of eating episodes (meals and snacks). The size of eating episodes is influenced by the process of satiation and the intervals between episodes by post-ingestive satiety. Protein appears to exert the most potent control over appetite. Carbohydrate also generates strong post-ingestive satiety with the intensity and duration depending upon the particular structure of the carbohydrate. High fat foods exert weak control over satiation and generate a weak satiety response relative to the proportion of energy ingested. High fat foods therefore have the potential to generate a form of passive overconsumption. The high energy density and potent oro-sensory qualities of high fat foods allows the rate of ingestion to overcome fat-induced satiety signals. This situation suggests behavioural, nutritional and pharmacological strategies to prevent fat-induced passive overconsumption and to improve the effect of fat on appetite control.