OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of light yogurt volume on the food intake of healthy men regardless of other variables. METHODS: Air was added to the yogurt by mixing it with a commercially available product, Emustab®, (6g/300ml) and homogenized in a semi-industrial blender. Three volumes of yogurt were used: 300, 450 and 600ml. Twenty healthy volunteers participated in the study, 10 with normal weight, Body Mass Index from 19 to 24.9kg/m² and 10 with excess weight, Body Mass Index >25kg/m². Each one of them was given a yogurt volume in three different days in the morning, after a 12 hour fast. After the intake of each yogurt volume, a visual analog scale was used to assess the subjective sensations of satiety, hunger and desire for specific foods. RESULTS: Light yogurt volumes affected the satiety of both studied groups and the greater volume was more effective (p<0.01). The highest hunger score was obtained after the 300ml intake, followed by 450 and 600ml (p<0.01). The desire for sweet, salty and fatty foods and snacks was not influenced by time and yogurt volume in either studied group. Energy intake between the days which yogurt was consumed and yogurt was not consumed was not statistically different (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the volume of light yogurt, regardless of other factors, may influence appetite and satiety.
hunger; eating; yogurt; obesity
