Psychosomatic Medicine 34:62-68 (1972)
© 1972 American Psychosomatic Society

Physiologic Versus Cognitive Factors in Short Term Food Regulation in the Obese and Nonobese

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229

Sixteen obese and 16 nonobese subjects were given, on 4 consecutive days, drinks which contained 200 or 600 calories and appeared half the time to be rich milkshakes and half the time to be low-calorie diet liquids. Food intake after the drinks were consumed was measured each day at a standardized test meal consisting of quarter sandwiches served 20 minutes later. The actual number of calories consumed prior to the test meal was found to have no effect on intake. However, subjects ate significantly less (.025 level) and reported feeling fuller after consuming the drink designed to appear high-calorie. No differences were found between obese and nonobese subjects. Of additional interest were the large quantities eaten by the subjects at the test meal and their tendency to underestimate their intake. The small size of the food units served may have caused subjects to lose count and overeat.

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