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Additivity of apparent and true ileal amino acid digestibilities in soybean meal, sunflower meal, and meat and bone meal for broilers.

An experiment was conducted to determine the additivity of apparent and true ileal amino acid digestibility values in soybean meal (SBM), sunflower meal (SFM), and meat and bone meal (MBM). A total of 63 individually caged 5-wk-old broilers were assigned to seven groups and given semi-purified diets containing SBM, SFM, MBM, and their combinations. True digestibilities were estimated by using the homoarginine in guanidinated proteins as the marker. Additivity was tested by comparing the differences between the observed digestibilities of ingredient combinations and the predicted values from measurements with individual ingredients. In general, for both apparent and true digestibilities, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the observed and predicted values in ingredient combinations. The only exception was SBM + MBM combination, in which the observed values for apparent digestibilities of aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, isoleucine, and tyrosine were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the predicted values. Overall, the present results indicate that amino acid digestibility values are additive and that digestible amino acid supply in a complete diet can be predicted from amino acid digestibilities of individual ingredients.

Amino Acids↗

Evaluation of meat meal, chicken meal, and corn gluten meal as dietary sources of protein in dry cat food.

The nutritional value of meat meal (MM), chicken meal (CM), and corn gluten meal (CGM) as dietary sources of protein in dry food formulated for adult cats was evaluated. Twelve healthy adult cats (11 males and 1 female) were used. Dry diets containing MM, CM, or CGM as the main protein source were given for a 3-week period in a 3 x 3 Latin-square design. Digestion and balance experiments were conducted during the last 7 d of each period. In addition, freshly voided urine was taken to determine urinary pH and number of struvite crystals. As compared with the CM diet, dry-matter digestibility was higher and lower for the MM and CGM groups, respectively. Percentages of nitrogen (N) absorption and N retention to N intake were higher in the MM group, and N utilization was not different between the CM group and the CGM group. All cats excreted alkaline urine (pH > 7). Urinary pH, struvite activity product, and number of struvite crystals in urine were lower for the CGM group. There was no difference in retention of calcium and magnesium among the groups. From the point of view of digestibility and N utilization, MM is superior to CGM, and CM is better than or equivalent to CGM as a protein source of dry foods for adult cats. However, when CM is used as a dietary protein source, some manipulation of dietary base excess may be needed to control urinary acid-base balance, because CM contains higher calcium and phosphorus.

Animal Feed↗

Nitrogen balance and amino acid disappearance from the small intestine in calves fed soybean meal-, toasted soybean meal- or corn gluten meal-supplemented diets.

Nine crossbred (Hereford X Angus X Charolais) heifer calves (139 kg; 6 mo of age) with abomasal and ileal cannulas were used in a repeated design to evaluate N balance and amino acid disappearance in the small intestine. Calves were fed either soybean meal (SBM), toasted SBM (TSBM, 93 C for 90 min) or corn gluten meal (CGM) as supplemental protein sources. Each calf received approximately 83 g N/d from a cottonseed hull-corn based diet with 43% of the total dietary N supplied by the test proteins. Each experimental period consisted of a 10-d adaptation, 6-d digesta collection and 5-d excreta collection. Following the first 21-d period, calves were randomly re-allotted to treatment and the sampling process was repeated. Dry matter (64%) and N digestibilities (61%) and N retention (36.8 g/d) were similar (P greater than .10) among treatments. Nitrogen flow to the small intestine was similar for TSBM- and CGM-fed calves (119.1 g/d), but greater (P less than .01) than for those offered SBM (96.3 g/d). Offering TSBM and CGM resulted in greater quantities of essential, nonessential and total amino acids reaching the abomasum compared with SBM. Total amino acid flow to the small intestine was 100, 120 and 128% of intake for SBM, TSBM and CGM, respectively. Numerically, amino acid digestibility was lower in CGM-fed calves. Methionine digestibility was highest (64.6%), while histidine was lowest (43.7%). Feeding CGM may result in greater quantities of amino acids reaching the small intestine; however, several of these amino acids may be less digestible than for TSBM.

Amino Acids↗

Meal to meal energy balance in rats.

Meal to meal energy balance was examined in thirty-eight simultaneous recordings of feeding pattern and O2 consumption in six rats. The mean difference between energy intake in a meal and energy expenditure until the onset of the next meal was found positive at night and negative during day time. At night the excess of meal intake over meal to meal expenditures was decreasing from the beginning to the end of the night and was strongly correlated to meal sizes. During day time meal to meal deficit was decreasing from the beginning to the end of the period but was not correlated to meal sizes. These meal location and size effects on the meal to meal energy balance were not determined by an effect of these factors on metabolic rate. No indication was provided that meal to meal energy balance was influenced by a "meal induced thermogenesis." Rather an evolution from the beginning to the end of the night of the correlation between meal size and durations of meal to meal intervals was found to be parallel to the evolution of positive meal to meal energy balance throughout the night. From these data it is concluded that at night a dual utilization of meal caloric intake (current energy metabolism plus fat storage) and a dual source of fuel during the day (food plus mobilized fats) determine time and mechanism of meal onset.

Animals↗

Effect of ruminal protein degradation of blood meal and feather meal on the intestinal amino acid supply to lactating cows.

Four lactating cows fitted with ruminal cannulae and T-type cannulae in the proximal duodenum and terminal ileum were utilized to measure protein degradation in the rumen and amino acid flow to and absorption from the small intestine. Soybean meal, blood meal, feather meal, and a 50-50 combination of blood meal and feather meal provided 50% of the protein in diets that contained 50% grain mix, 40% corn silage, and 10% alfalfa pellets on a DM basis. Ruminal degradation of dietary CP was 53, 43, 32, and 37% for diets containing soybean meal, blood meal, feather meal, and the combination of meals. Cows fed the latter two diets also had lower ruminal NH3 concentrations and efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis compared to those fed the soybean meal diet. Total tract N digestibility was lower for diets containing feather meal (63.4%) and a combination of meals (66.3%) than the soybean meal diet (78.5%). Total amino acid flow to the duodenum was 19.3 and 15.6% higher for cows fed the feather meal and combined meal diets, respectively, compared with the soybean meal diet. Total amino acid absorption from the small intestine was higher as well as absorption of individual amino acids for the combined meal diet compared with the soybean meal diet. Absorption of individual amino acids, expressed as a percentage entering the duodenum, was lowest for the feather meal diet. Results from this study show that feeding a combination of blood meal and feather meal instead of soybean meal can increase intestinal supply and absorption of amino acids in dairy cattle.

Amino Acids↗

Can one unrestricted meal buffer the effects of previous pre-meal intervals on the feeding behaviour of sheep?

Varying the time since the last meal is one means of manipulating feeding motivation. In order to use this method effectively it is necessary to know whether and the extent to which effects of one pre-meal interval are carried over to affect the behaviour during the following meals. Pre-meal interval (PMI) is defined here for practical purposes, for short meals, as the time between the start of two successive meals. The possibility that one unrestricted meal might buffer the effects of an 8h as opposed to a 4h PMI on aspects of feeding behaviour was studied with eight Scottish Blackface sheep. They were fed on a regime in which they were given access to food until they finished their meal and lay down (this always occurred within 60min) at which time the remaining food was withdrawn. Feeding behaviour was recorded during the meal after these 4 and 8h intervals, as well as during the following meal 4h later.At a meal after a PMI of 8h, compared to 4h, sheep had a higher intake per meal (mean+/-S.T.D. for 8 and 4h PMI, respectively: 604.4+/-78.8 and 430.1+/-100.9g; P<0.001), a longer meal duration (27.1+/-7.5 and 21.8+/-8.1min; P<0.001), and a tendency for a higher intake rate (23.8+/-6.2 and 21.9+/-8.2g/min; P=0.11). During the following meal 4h later these differences were smaller, but intake per meal still tended to be higher (430.8+/-81.5 and 338.5+/-45.6g; P<0.06) for sheep who had previously had the 8h PMI. Meal duration (21.9+/-7.2 and 20.6+/-7.08min; P=0.28) and intake rate (21.2+/-6.1 and 18.7+/-7.2g/min; P=0.13) were no longer different.A single meal after the different PMIs reduced differences in all three aspects of feeding behaviour observed during the subsequent meal, 4h later, but differences in intake per meal were still apparent. It is suggested that an additional meal may overcome the carry-over effect.

Journal Article↗

Effect of meal size and test duration on gastric emptying and gastric myoelectrical activity as determined with simultaneous [13C]octanoate breath test and electrogastrography in normal subjects using a muffin meal.

Our purpose was to determine the effect of meal size on gastric emptying (GE) as measured by octanoate breath test (OBT), to determine the effect of the duration of breath collections on assessment of GE by OBT, and to determine the effect of meal size on gastric myoelectrical activity as measured by electrogastrography (EGG). Fourteen normal subjects underwent two modified [13C]OBTs using muffin meals of 250 or 350 kcal mixed with 100 mg [13C]sodium octanoate. T(1/2) for GE was determined for both the entire postprandial 6-hr breath collection and a truncated initial 4-hr data set. EGG was recorded for 30 min prior to the muffin meal and 4 hr postprandially. Using the 6-hr breath collection data, the T(1/2) was 177 +/- 7 (mean +/- SEM) for the 350-kcal meal compared to 153 +/- 7 min (P < 0.01) for the 250-kcal meal. Using the 4-hr data, the T(1/2) for the 350-kcal meal was 244 +/- 32 min compared to 165 +/- 12 min (P < 0.05) for the 250-kcal meal. The ratio of postprandial to fasting EGG power of the dominant frequency for the 350-kcal meal (1.9 +/- 0.4) was higher than that for the 250-kcal meal (1.3 +/- 0.6). T(1/2) for the 350-kcal meal using 4- and 6-hr data was significantly correlated with the 4-hr power ratio (r = 0.68 and 0.67; P < 0.05, respectively), but poorly correlated for the 250-kcal meal. In conclusions, GE and EGG are affected by meal size. Using the muffin-based [13C]OBT, T(1/2) for the 350-kcal meal was significantly longer than for a 250-kcal meal. Longer T(1/2) values were obtained with shorter breath sampling durations. The postprandial to fasting power ratio for the 350-kcal meal was greater than that for the 250-kcal meal.

Adult↗

Meal-induced thermogenesis and obesity: is a fat meal a risk factor for fat gain in children?

Diet composition, in particular fat intake, has been suggested to be a risk factor for obesity in humans. Several mechanisms may contribute to explain the impact of fat intake on fat gain. One factor may be the low thermogenesis induced by a mixed meal rich in fat. In a group of 11 girls (10.1 +/- 0.3 yr), 6 obese (body mass index, 25.6 +/- 0.6 kg/m(2)), and 5 nonobese (body mass index, 19 +/- 1.6 kg/m(2)), we tested the hypothesis that a mixed meal rich in fat can elicit energy saving compared with an isocaloric and isoproteic meal rich in carbohydrate. The postabsorptive resting energy expenditure and the thermic effect of a meal (TEM) after a low fat (LF; 20% fat, 68% carbohydrate, and 12% protein) or an isocaloric (2500 kJ or 600 Cal) and isoproteic high fat (HF; 48% fat, 40% carbohydrate, and 12% protein) meal were measured by indirect calorimetry. Each girl repeated the test with a different, randomly assigned menu (HF or LF) 1 week after the first test. TEM, expressed as a percentage of energy intake was significantly higher after a LF meal than after a HF meal (6.5 +/- 0.7% vs. 4.3 +/- 0.4%; P < 0.01). The postprandial respiratory quotient (RQ) was significantly higher after a LF meal than after a HF meal (0.86 +/- 0.013 vs. 0.83 +/- 0.014; P < 0.001). The HF low carbohydrate meal induced a significantly lower increase in carbohydrate oxidation than the LF meal (20.3 +/- 6.2 vs. 61.3 +/- 7.8 mg/min; P < 0.001). On the contrary, fat oxidation was significantly higher after a HF meal than after a LF meal (-1.3 +/- 2.4 vs. -15.1 +/- 3.6 mg/min; P < 0.01). However, the postprandial fat storage was 8-fold higher after a HF meal than after a LF meal (17.2 +/- 1.7 vs. 1.9 +/- 1.8 g; P < 0.001). These results suggest that a high fat meal is able to induce lower thermogenesis and a higher positive fat balance than an isocaloric and isoproteic low fat meal. Therefore, diet composition per se must be taken into account among the various risk factors that induce obesity in children.

Adipose Tissue↗

[Effect of the number of health meals before an infectious meal on the vectorial competence of Glossina morsitans morsitans infected by Trypanosoma congolense IL 1180].

The purpose of this work was to assess the influence of several healthy meals (0, 1 and 2) prior to the infectious one on the vectorial competence of Glossina morsitans morsitans (Mall). The teneral flies (< 32 h old) of this line were divided into three groups. The tsetse flies of group A received no meal. The ones of group B received one healthy meal on day 1, whereas those from group C were given two consecutive healthy meals on days 1 and 2. All the flies were experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense IL 1180 when the maximum age reached 32 h for flies with no meal, 56 h for those with one healthy meal and 80 h for those who received two healthy meals. When both sexes were considered, the meso-procyclic and metacyclic indexes as well as the vectorial competence (VC) of the flies receiving no meal were 0.99 +/- 0.01, 0.96 +/- 0.02 and 0.95 +/- 0.03. Considering the flies which were fed one healthy meal, the respective values were 0.42 +/- 0.13, 0.50 +/- 0.01 and 0.21 +/- 0.06, whereas the values for the flies receiving two healthy meals were 0.45 +/- 0.11, 0.29 +/- 0.19 and 0.13 +/- 0.05. The meso-procyclic and metacyclic indexes as well as the VC in both sexes were more important in the flies which received no meal than those fed with one or two healthy meals. The meso-procyclic and metacyclic indexes and VC did not show any significant differences between the flies fed one or two healthy meals, whereas the metacyclic index of male flies which received one healthy meal was significantly higher than those fed two healthy meals. These results indicate that the number of non-infected (healthy) meals prior to an infected meal reduces the interaction between G. m. morsitans infected and T. congolense.

Animals↗

Performance of cows in early lactation fed isonitrogenous diets containing soybean meal or animal by-product meals.

Eighty primiparous cows were assigned to either soybean meal, fish meal, or A and B treatments. Commercial supplement A was a blend of meat and bone, meat, poultry, blood, and feather meals. Commercial supplement B included the same ingredients as A but had a higher amount of blood meal and also a low concentration of fish meal. In vitro undegradabilities of protein were 32.0, 37.8, 38.8, and 42.4% for soybean meal, fish meal, A, and B rations, respectively. Milk yields and body weight changes were not significantly affected by treatments. Because of the lower milk fat content on fish meal diet, FCM yield was lower for cows fed fish meal than soybean meal or B supplements. Milk protein content was 3.19, 3.19, 3.03, and 3.09% on soybean meal, fish meal, A, and B diets, respectively. The calculated protein efficiency (100* output/input) on soybean meal, fish meal, A, and B diets were 47.8, 51.6, 45.9, and 48.7, respectively. The undegraded protein in the fish meal after an 18-h in vitro incubation with protease enzyme (Streptomyces griseus, type V) had a higher concentration of methionine and lysine than the undegraded protein of other supplements. Flavor of milk produced on the soybean and fish meal diets was evaluated. No flavor differences were detected.

Animal Feed↗

Evaluation of dietary fibre in meals-on-wheels meals in Melbourne.

The elderly are considered to be a group of persons who are at risk of suffering the health problems that are associated with inadequate nutrition. The delivery of meals to homes, the meals-on-wheels programme, has been an approach to reduce this risk, but there is little information about the contribution of such a programme to the total diet or to particular nutrient intakes. The dietary-fibre content of meals that were collected over four seasons from three Melbourne metropolitan meals-on-wheels areas was determined chemically and compared with the fibre content as calculated by means of food-composition tables. The analysed and calculated dietary-fibre contents of meals-on-wheels meals were 7.3 g and 6.4 g, respectively. The total daily dietary-fibre intake was assessed in recipients of the meals-on-wheels services by a three-day food-record, and also by means of a dietary history. The dietary-fibre intake was 16 g/day by both methods. Most dietary fibre came from vegetables; the fruit fibre was derived exclusively from citrus fruit, and no cereal fibre was provided, except in desserts. The contribution of meals-on-wheels meals to the estimated daily dietary-fibre intake of meals-on-wheels recipients was 46% as determined by chemical analysis and 40% as calculated from food-composition tables. The contribution of meals-on-wheels meals to a suggested desirable total intake of dietary fibre of 25-30 g/day for the elderly was 24%-29% as analysed and 21%-26% as calculated. Thus, the contribution of meals-on-wheels meals to the total dietary-fibre intake was reasonable but low in comparison with the desirable intake. Home-delivered meals could contain higher levels of dietary fibre by the inclusion of more foods which contain whole-grain cereals, nuts, legumes and vegetables.

Diet↗

Leptin and post-prandial satiety: acute central leptin more potently reduces meal frequency than meal size in the rat.

RATIONALE: Many attempts to understand ingestion have sought to clarify the control of meals. Little is known about the effects of the anorexogenic hormone leptin on meal patterning. OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to perform a dose-response analysis of the effects of acute central leptin administration on meal patterning using a validated, objective meal definition and to compare these results to those obtained with a previously used, subjective meal definition. METHODS: To validate the objective meal definition pharmacologically, the microstructural effects of the well-studied compound fenfluramine (SC 0, 1, 2, 4 mg/kg) on spontaneous nocturnal intake were determined in mature, non-deprived male Wistar rats (n=8) using a full Latin square design. The effects of intracerebroventricular leptin administration (0, 0.3, 1, 3, 6.25 microg; n=10) were also examined, and perceived meal patterns obtained from the objective and subjective definitions were compared. RESULTS: Fenfluramine reduced meal size and eating rate at doses that did not reduce meal frequency or duration. In contrast, comparably anorectic doses of leptin had potent post-meal satiety-like effects, reducing meal frequency and prolonging the intermeal interval without reducing average meal size, a finding opposite to that suggested by the previously used subjective meal definition. Unlike comparably and more anorectic doses of fenfluramine, leptin non-specifically reduced both prandial and non-prandial drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Acute increases in central leptin levels may potently augment post-prandial satiety and influence body-fluid homeostasis. The results reveal unappreciated central modes of action for the ob protein which qualitatively differ from the intra-meal satiating-like effects of fenfluramine.

Animals↗

The meal pattern of rats shifts from postprandial regulation to preprandial regulation when only five meals per day are scheduled.

In order to investigate whether an observed difference in the meal patterns of rats and human may be due to constraints that humans have on the timing of meals and their large but infrequent meal pattern, rats had similar constraints imposed on their meal intake. Fifteen male Long-Evans rats were monitored in five individual enclosed chambers equipped with pellet sensing eatometers for three fourteen-day data collection periods. Both groups were monitored in a baseline ad lib condition, then one group (n = 7) was allowed access to food only once every two hours, while the second group (n = 8) was allowed to access only five times per day. Both groups were then monitored for a second ad lib baseline period. The imposition of both schedules reduced meal frequencies and estimated premeal stomach contents, and increased meal sizes and estimated postmeal stomach contents. The imposition of the five meal per day, but not the twelve meal per day schedule of meal access, eliminated the significant relationships between meal size and the postmeal interval evident during baseline conditions and produced significant relationships between meal size and the premeal interval and estimated premeal stomach content, not seen during baseline conditions. The rats under the five meal per day access schedule showed a preprandial pattern of intake very similar to that previously observed in humans eating ad lib. It was concluded that the preprandial pattern, typical of humans, is characteristic of intake involving large infrequent meals which produce stomach filling to an upper limiting threshold. The postprandial pattern, typical of rats, is characteristic of intake involving small frequent meals that are initiated when the stomach empties to a lower threshold. A peripheral, stomach capacity, model then, can be used to explain both the preprandial and the postprandial patterns. Which pattern is used depends upon environmental conditions.

Animals↗

Pre-meal water consumption reduces meal energy intake in older but not younger subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the consumption of water 30 minutes before an ad libitum meal reduces meal energy intake in young and older adults. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Healthy, non-obese young (n = 29; age, 21 to 35 years) and older (n = 21; age, 60 to 80 years) individuals were provided with an ad libitum lunch meal on two occasions. Thirty minutes before the lunch meals, subjects were given either a water preload (WP: 375 mL, women; 500 mL, men) or no preload (NP). Energy intake at the two lunch meals was measured. Visual analog scales were used to assess changes in hunger, fullness, and thirst during the meal studies. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in meal energy intake between conditions in the young subjects (892 + 51 vs. 913 +/- 54 kcal for NP and WP, respectively; p = 0.65). However, meal energy intake after the WP was significantly reduced relative to the NP condition in the older subjects (682 + 53 vs. 624 +/- 56 kcal for NP and WP, respectively; p = 0.02). This effect was caused primarily by the reduction in meal energy intake after water consumption in older men. Hunger ratings were lower and fullness ratings were higher in older compared with younger adults (p < 0.01). Fullness ratings were higher in the WP condition compared with the NP condition for all subjects (p = 0.01). No age differences in thirst were detected during the test meals. DISCUSSION: Under acute test meal conditions, pre-meal water consumption reduces meal energy intake in older but not younger adults. Because older adults are at increased risk for overweight and obesity, intervention studies are needed to determine whether pre-meal water consumption is an effective long-term weight management strategy for the aging population.

Adult↗

Conjugated linoleic acid and other beneficial fatty acids in milk fat from cows fed soybean meal, fish meal, or both.

Twelve multiparous Holstein cows at 48 +/- 8 DIM were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square with 21-d periods to determine the effect of replacing soybean meal with fish meal on feed intake, milk yield, and milk composition. Fish meal substituted for soybean meal on an isonitrogenous basis at 0, 25, 50, and 100% of supplemental protein. Total mixed diets were (DM basis) 25% corn silage, 25% alfalfa hay, and 50% concentrate mix. Intake of DM (27.9, 27.8, 26.1, and 25.8 kg/d for diets 1 to 4, respectively) was similar for all diets. Milk yield (37.5, 37.8, 37.2, and 37.7 kg/d) was not affected by diets. Milk protein percentages (3.23, 3.24, 3.31, and 3.35) increased with 100% fish meal supplementation and tended to be higher with 50% fish meal supplementation compared with 100% soybean meal diet. Milk fat percentages (3.18, 2.99, 3.04, and 2.87) and yield were lower with the 100% fish meal than with the 100% soybean meal diet. Concentration of n-3 fatty acids in milk fat (0.54, 0.56, 0.63, and 0.72 g/100 g fatty acids) increased as the proportion of fish meal in the diet increased. Concentrations of c9,t11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; 0.39, 0.44, 0.46, and 0.72 g/100 g fatty acids) and transvaccenic acid (TVA; 1.09, 1.19, 1.28, and 1.54 g/100 g of fatty acids) were higher with the 100% fish meal diet than with the 100% soybean meal diet. A total replacement of soybean meal with fish meal in the diet of lactating cows increased milk protein percentages and the beneficial fatty acids (CLA, TVA, and n-3 FA) in milk fat.

Animal Feed↗

Yield response of lactating Holstein dairy cows to dietary fish meal and bone meal.

Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of the source and amount of dietary protein on yield and composition of milk from Holstein dairy cows. Study 1 used 36 multiparous cows at 125 +/- 59 d in milk in, a replicated 2 x 2 Latin square design. Treatments were diets formulated to contain 16% crude protein (CP) in which 11% was fish meal or meat and bone meal supplied 11% of dietary CP. Intakes of dry matter, CP, and net energy for lactation; yields of milk; and percentage of milk fat were not affected by treatment. Fish meal increased contents of milk total N, casein N, and noncasein N but did not increase contents of NPN; fish meal also tended to increase milk CP yields. Study 2 used 78 cows (31 primiparous) at 31 +/- 2 d in milk in a randomized block design. Two treatment diets were formulated to contain 16 or 18.5% CP, and soybean meal was the sole source of supplemental protein in those diets. The two other treatment diets were, formulated to contain 16% CP; in these diets, fish meal or meat and bone meal partially replaced soybean meal. Treatments did not influence yield or composition of milk from multiparous cows. Compared with a soybean meal diet containing 16% CP, a soybean meal diet containing 18.5% CP or diets containing 16% CP and containing meat and bone meal or fish meal increased the milk, yield of primiparous cows similarly. Fish meal or meat and bone meal increased the efficiency of protein utilization for milk yield.

Animals↗

Meal size, not body size, explains errors in estimating the calorie content of meals.

BACKGROUND: Although most people underestimate the calories they consume during a meal or during the day, calorie underestimation is especially extreme among overweight persons. The reason for this systematic bias is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the association between calorie underestimation and body mass reflects a tendency for all persons to underestimate calories as the size of a meal increases. DESIGN: Overweight and normal-weight adults estimated the number of calories of a fast-food meal they had ordered and eaten (study 1) or of 15 fast-food meals that were chosen by the experimenter (study 2) in a randomized, controlled trial. Their estimations were compared with the actual number of calories of the meals. SETTING: Study 1 was a field study conducted in fast-food restaurants in 3 medium-sized midwestern U.S. cities. Study 2 was conducted in a laboratory at a major U.S. research university. PARTICIPANTS: Study 1 involved 105 lunchtime diners (average body mass index [BMI], 24.2 kg/m2 [range, 17.2 to 33.5 kg/m2]). Study 2 involved 40 undergraduate students (average BMI, 23.2 kg/m2 [range, 16.1 to 32.3 kg/m2]). MEASUREMENTS: Participants were asked to estimate the number of calories in a fast-food meal they had ordered and eaten (study 1) or in 15 sizes of the same fast-food meal (study 2). The actual number of calories in the meals in the field study was obtained by unobtrusively recording the food that was ordered (identified from the wrappings and containers). Weight and height were self-reported. RESULTS: Although participants strongly underestimated the number of calories in larger meals (by -38.0% in study 1 and by -22.6% in study 2), they almost perfectly estimated the number of calories in smaller meals (by -2.9% in study 1 and by 3.0% in study 2). After the authors controlled for body weight-related differences in meal size, the calorie estimations of normal-weight and overweight participants were identical in both studies. LIMITATIONS: These studies examined fast-food meals. Weight and height were self-reported. There were too few observations to distinguish between obese (BMI > or =30 kg/m2) and overweight (BMI >25 kg/m2 but <30 kg/m2) participants. CONCLUSIONS: Greater underestimation of calories by overweight persons is a consequence of their tendency to consume larger meals. Calorie underestimation is related to meal size, not body size.

Adult↗

Meal patterns in the SENECA study of nutrition and the elderly in Europe: assessment method and preliminary results on the role of the midday meal.

The paper discusses the assessment method for meal patterns in the course of the SENECA follow-up survey in 1993 in eight study towns across Europe and relates the percentage of energy intake at the midday meal to geographical latitude, total energy intake, energy intake as snacks, number of cooked meals, time spent at the main meal and intake of milk products, fat and leafy vegetables. A questionnaire for the assessment of meal patterns in western Europe has to include the possibility to assess more than three meals per day as well as a variety of meals at any time of the day. Meal structures vary between cooked meals, bread- or soup-based meals, but may also consist of spoon food, salads or fruit. Positive correlations were found between the percentage of energy intake at the midday meal and the number of cooked meals consumed per day, negative relations were found between the percentage of energy intake at the midday meal and the geographical latitude as well as total energy intake, energy intake in form of snacks and consumption of milk products.

Aged↗