Journal article 458 views 321 downloads
Energy density of snacking episodes and eating behaviour: A systematic review of experimental studies
,
Milena Rundle,
Alexandra Meynier,
Sophie Vinoy,
Laura Wilkinson
Food Quality and Preference, Volume: 131, Start page: 105557
Swansea University Authors:
Chloe Mellor, Rochelle Embling, Menna Price , Laura Wilkinson
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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105557
Abstract
Snacking episodes can be defined as food and drink that are consumed between mealtimes. Snacking episodes can differ greatly in nutrient and energy content, having the potential to influence diet quality and, in turn, health. This systematic review aimed to understand the impact that the energy dens...
| Published in: | Food Quality and Preference |
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| ISSN: | 0950-3293 1873-6343 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2025
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69360 |
| Abstract: |
Snacking episodes can be defined as food and drink that are consumed between mealtimes. Snacking episodes can differ greatly in nutrient and energy content, having the potential to influence diet quality and, in turn, health. This systematic review aimed to understand the impact that the energy density of snacking episodes has on eating behaviour outcomes. Objective outcome measures included ad libitum snack intake and daily energy intake, and subjective measures included self-assessed hunger and satisfaction. Eight databases were searched based on set inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify peer-reviewed experimental studies with adult populations. Across the ten eligible studies, seven assessed hunger, five assessed fullness, one assessed overall satiety, five assessed desire to eat/prospective food consumption, and eight assessed energy intake, ad libitum intake/compensation with respect to the impact of snacking episodes' energy density. The weight of the evidence suggested that the energy density of snacking episodes has little effect on eating behaviour outcomes, with limited evidence suggesting that higher energy density snacking episodes could result in higher satiety levels and influence fullness levels but only at specific time points. Risk of confound was high, including little control over volume and sensory characteristics across studies, particularly those reporting significant effects. Overall, this literature would benefit from using standardised snacking comparisons, to confidently identify the impacts of energy density for snacking episodes on eating behaviour outcomes. Findings could inform future studies that aim to understand the formulation of snacking episode considering energy density, to benefit diet quality whilst maintaining consumer satisfaction. |
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| Keywords: |
Systematic review; Energy density; Snacking episodes |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
This research was supported by the BBSRC with an additional contribution from Mondelez International. |
| Start Page: |
105557 |