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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Nov 15, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Pennsylvania researchers have found that small changes in young women's meals caused them to eat 800 calories less per day and still feel full.
Dr. Barbara Rolls of the University of Pennsylvania, in a study presented Monday at a Las Vegas conference, said she reduced the calorie density by 30 percent and serving size by just 25 percent of the young women.
"We lowered the energy density, or calories per gram, of the participants' meals by incorporating more vegetables and fruit in recipes and also using food products reduced in fat and sugar," she said.
"The subjects found the smaller, lower energy density meals just as palatable, filling and satisfying as the big, high calorie menu items -- and they didn't compensate for lowered intake on the first day by eating more on the second day of the study."
Reducing the energy density of foods by 30 percent led to a 23 percent decrease in daily calorie intake, and reducing the portion size by 25 percent led to a 12 percent decrease in calorie intake, she said.
Despite the large variation in intake, there were no significant differences in ratings of hunger or fullness over the two days.
Copyright 2004 by United Press International.
