FAT

Question 1

the overconsumption of fat

Answer 1

• Highly palatable: texture, flavour, cross-modal sensory effects (reward/dopamine?)
• Satiety signals:
  ▫ Preload studies (early work): Pro > CHO > fat
  ▫ Later work: similar effect of CHO and fat on subsequent intake of test
  meal when palatability and energy density matched
• Energy density of fat is high – 9kcal/g (4kcal/g Carbs & protein). Small portions of fatty food can therefore have a high energy content.
• If the amount of food (weight or volume) plays a role in the regulation of food intake, we may overconsume fat due to its high energy density in comparison to other foods.

Question 2

effects of fat on satiation

Answer 2

Effects on satiation
▫ Tendency to consume constant weight of food; regardless of macronutrient content. E.g., Stubbs et al., 1996, Saltzman, 1997.
▫ Therefore, we may overconsume fat due to its high energy density in comparison to other foods.
▫ We are poor at recognising energy density of foods and adjusting intake. Palatability of fats can be traced to our primal roots

Foods high in fat contribute the most (in energy) to satisfy our biological drive to have the necessary energy for survival. We are highly motivated therefore to seek out foods high in fat, sugar, salt and energy density to ‘ensure our survival’.

Question 3

fat addiction

Answer 3

(Ziauddeen, Fletcher, & Aitken, 2019)
Food rich in fat is hyperpalatable, and is liable to be consumed in excess amounts. Food addiction as a concept has gained traction in recent years, as some aspects of addiction have been demonstrated for certain varieties of food. Fat addiction can be a diagnosable condition, which has similarities with the construct of addictive disorders, and is distinct from eating disorders or normal eating behaviors. Psychological vulnerabilities like attentional biases have been identified in individuals described to be having such addiction.

Question 4

What is passive consumption?

Answer 4

Passive overconsumption
* We tend to consume a constant weight of food, despite variations in
macronutrient content
* High energy density of highly liked, high-fat foods → overconsumption of
fat
* Fat has a relatively weak effect on satiation and satiety (relative to
protein)
➢Passive overconsumption (high fat hyperphagia)

Question 5

why is fat overconsumed?

Answer 5

2. Why is dietary fat overconsumed?
   * Energy dense
   * Palatability
   * Weak effect on satiety, and low
   expected satiation/satiety
   (energy density is inversely
   related to expected satiety).
   * Tendency to consume the same
   weight of food

Question 6

Reading on fat:

Answer 6

fat addiction!
fat: carb - Blundell 1979. Prentice and Jebb 1995-

Elliot 2007- Looked at the nutritional content of ‘fun foods’- foods that are targeted to children, finding 89% of these foods are high in fat and sugar- both seen to be addictive, especially in children! Despite claiming to be nutrrtional food!