The Concept of CMR
Slides, videos and moreThe Concept of CMR
The Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Epidemics
Energy Intake
- 1Key Points (1 page)
- 2Determinants of Energy Intake (1 page)
- 3Neuropeptides and Appetite Regulation (3 pages)
- 4Diet Composition (2 pages)
- 5References (1 page)
Diet Composition
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The chemical composition of food and its relative macronutrient content play a critical role in regulating food intake and satiety. For instance, unlike carbohydrates and dietary fat, proteins are thought to reduce spontaneous food intake by promoting satiety. The amino acid composition of ingested proteins may also be an important regulator of satiety. Fat and alcohol consumption seems to increase energy intake whereas carbohydrate ingestion does not, although there is evidence to suggest that complex carbohydrates (with a low-glycemic index) may induce satiety similar to proteins (18). Carbohydrates comprise 45 to 60% of a standard diet and are thought to be the central macronutrient regulating energy balance. Carbohydrates vary widely with respect to chemical composition, absorption, and palatability. Dietary fibres and starches are not absorbed quickly and therefore induce satiety faster than carbohydrates with a high-glycemic index such as sucrose, fructose, and sweeteners. The latter three are absorbed quickly and released in the circulation, thereby playing a critical role in food intake, especially in the intake of high-fat, energy-dense foods (19). High-fat foods are generally quite palatable, and when humans are allowed to eat high-fat foods without restriction, they often eat more of these foods than when asked to eat low-fat foods under the same conditions in a controlled environment. Because of factors such as palatability and energy density, a high fat diet may therefore promote a positive energy balance and weight gain (20). Provided that fat is not replaced by refined sugar, low-fat diets can induce a negative energy balance and are recommended by healthcare professionals to treat overweight and obesity (21, 22).
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