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ObjectiveTo examine the effects of lunches with different dietary energy densities on food preferences between genders.DesignRandomized crossover study. Participants were administered the following packed test meals once weekly on a specified day during six sessions: control (150 g of rice with a sautéed beef entrée containing 40 g of raw beef and 240 g of vegetables), high-meat/low-rice, low-vegetable, medium-fat/low-vegetable, high-fat and high-fat/low-vegetable meals. Subjective levels of sensory properties were assessed over time using visual analogue scales.SettingUniversity of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.SubjectsSixty-five men and sixty-five women matched by age and BMI.ResultsMen showed significantly stronger desires for salty and fatty foods after meals (P<0·05). Women showed a significantly stronger desire for sweetness from 2 h after the low-vegetable meal, and increasing fat content under high-vegetable conditions caused a significant stimulated sweetness desire in women more than in men (P<0·05). Moreover, after a high-meat/low-rice meal with 100 g of rice, sweetness desire was stronger in women (P=0·024), whereas no significant differences in sweetness desire were shown between genders after another low-energy-density control meal with 150 g of rice.ConclusionsMen had significantly stronger desires for salty and fatty foods, whereas women preferred sweet food after meals. The sweetness desire in women was stimulated by increasing fat content, even with a high vegetable intake. Low rice intake in a low-energy-density diet also caused a relative stimulation of sweetness desire in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Although high energy density foods are highly palatable, their overconsumption leads to obesity because of high fat content. Low energy density foods are more effective for preventing individuals from becoming overweight. We investigated how different amounts of a single vegetable affect the sensory properties of meals with different energy densities.Methods and Study Design: In a randomized crossover design, 40 young Japanese women consumed control and high-fat (HF) lunches. Control meals contained the same amount of rice and hamburger and 80 g (C80), 120 g (C120), 160 g (C160), 200 g (C200), 240 g (C240), or 280 g (C280) of broccoli. HF meals were control meals to which 38.1 g of oil was added (HF80, HF120, HF160, HF200, HF240, and HF280). Sensory properties before intake and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h after meals were assessed using a visual analog scale.Results: Fullness was significantly lower with C80 than with C200 and C280 at 0.5 h and all time points, respectively, after consumption. In contrast, satisfaction with all HF meals was similar at all time points. Fullness and satisfaction were higher with almost all HF meals than with control meals; however, fullness and satisfaction were similar between HF200 and all control meals 1-4 h after consumption.Conclusions: Fat increases satiety when a single vegetable is included in the meal; however, at least of 200 g of vegetable in a 500- kcal meal with low fat content provides fullness and satisfaction similar to those provided by an HF meal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]