ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the contributions of sensory function, appetitive sensations, ingestive patterns, and dietary macronutrient content to the control of energy intake, which is the primary driver of weight gain and loss in humans. Thresholds for and intensity ratings of sensory stimuli are weakly associated with hedonic impressions. Liking of foods is more strongly related to food choice but still provides only weak predictive power. Due to numerous environmental and biological factors that promote or constrain intake, no robust relationship between appetitive sensations and obesity has emerged. Increased eating frequency generally promotes greater energy intake, but effects on body weight are less well-documented, potentially due to misreporting of intake. The energy content of the diet is a better predictor of weight status than its particular macronutrient distribution. From these studies, we conclude that human feeding is a complex behavior that reflects the contributions of multiple drivers. No single input provides a reliable index of an individual’s or population’s energy balance. The importance of each will be determined by an individual’s lifestyle and biology, thus requiring individualized recommendations to affect body weight in a desired direction.
