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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Effects of energy density on the liking for sweet drinks and on caloric adjustment conditioning after exposure in children

subject

description

The contribution of energy density from sweet drinks to energy intake in children needs clarification. The objective was to study the influence of energy conditioning on liking and on caloric adjustment after sweet drinks exposure. Children aged 8 to 11 (n=44) were exposed to distinctly flavored sweetened drinks: a high-energy (HE: 150kcal) and a no-energy version (NE: 0kcal). They received either 2 or 7 exposures to each drink during a 4-wk conditioning period; no exposure during a 3-wk stability period; 3 exposures to both drinks, for which the association between the flavor and the energy density was switched, during a 4-wk extinction period. Flavor liking and food intake during the meals following the drink consumption were assessed before and after each period. After the conditioning period, the liking for both drinks increased (P<0.001). After the stability period and after the extinction period, the liking for the HE flavor was higher than the NE flavor (P=0.025 and P=0.040, respectively). Initially, energy intakes during the meal did not differ following the consumption of NE or HE drinks. After the conditioning period and up until the end of the extinction period, energy intakes were lower after the consumption of the HE drink compared to the NE drink regardless of the beverage flavor. The number of exposures did not influence the liking or the caloric adjustment. This shows that after a repeated association between flavor and energy density, liking is driven by flavor and caloric adjustment is driven by energy density.