Energy intake compensation during snacking intervention ‐ a pilot study

Abstract

This pilot study was undertaken to assess whether a deliberate increase in eating frequency would cause an increase in overall energy intake and thus potentially contribute to weight gain. Ten adult male subjects were randomly allocated into two groups. One group consumed a given snack 30 minutes and the other 90 minutes before lunch and evening meals for a two‐week period. After a washout period, the snacking regimes were reversed. Body weights were measured at baseline and at the end of the two intervention periods. Subjects completed a seven day semi‐weighed dietary diary at baseline and a four‐day diary during the second week of the two intervention periods. The insertion of snacks between meals resulted in a reduction in energy consumed at subsequent meals. Surprisingly snacks taken 90 minutes before meals resulted in a reduction in energy consumed at subsequent meals. Moreover, the magnitude of the adjustment was greater at evening meals than at lunch. This study provides preliminary evidence that snacking does not necessarily lead to overconsumption and thus contribute to obesity. However, a full‐scale study is needed with a longer intervention period to thoroughly evaluate this issue.

Citation

Yates, H., Crombie, N. and Kirk, T. (1998), "Energy intake compensation during snacking intervention ‐ a pilot study", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 98 No. 5, pp. 267-271. https://doi.org/10.1108/00346659810224181