Is drinking or eating better to get satiated ?

26 August 2010

It is commonly admitted that the solid form of food decreases more the sensation of hunger and short-term food intake than the liquid form. However, a study aimed at comparing the effect of solid and liquid forms of gelatin, of sucrose, of a mixture 50% glucose/50% fructose and of whey proteins (acid and sweet) on subjective appetite and food intake.

Then, it appeared that the solid form strengthened the sensation of satiety (compared to the liquid form) only for gelatin and sweet whey protein. Moreover, for sugars as well as for gelatin, neither solid nor liquid form decreased the food intake compared to the ingestion of the control (calorie-free sweetened water) and, for whey proteins, both forms, liquid and solid, decreased food intake compared to the control (water).

Therefore, it seems that macronutrient (protein, lipid, carbohydrate) composition of food has more impact on subjective appetite and food intake than the physical state of food.