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Understanding the Relationship Between Food Variety, Food Intake, and Energy Balance

  • Psychological Issues (V Drapeau and S Sogg, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Obesity Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

In accordance with US dietary guidance, incorporating variety into the diet can align with energy balance, though greater food variety in some categories may make energy balance more challenging. Thus, experimental and epidemiologic evidence is summarized on the relationship between food variety, food and energy intake, and energy balance.

Recent Findings

Lab-based, experimental research consistently demonstrates that greater variety within foods or sensory characteristics of food increases food and energy intake within an eating occasion. Epidemiologic evidence is less consistent, potentially driven by differing methodologies, particularly in defining and measuring food variety. Moreover, the effect of variety on energy balance appears to be moderated by food energy density.

Summary

Integrating insights from experimental and epidemiologic research are essential for strengthening food variety guidance including developing evidence-based definitions of food variety, understanding moderators of the relationship, and developing practical guidance interpretable to consumers.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, 1215 Cumberland Avenue, 229 JHB, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA

    Hollie A. Raynor

  2. Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA

    Maya Vadiveloo

Authors
  1. Hollie A. Raynor
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  2. Maya Vadiveloo
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Correspondence to Hollie A. Raynor.

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Conflict of Interest

Hollie A. Raynor has received funding from Weight Watchers International for a multisite RCT and for examining dietary variety in a RCT that was not funded by Weight Watchers International and also received compensation from Slimming World for participating on the scientific advisory board.

Maya Vadiveloo declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Hollie A. Raynor and Maya Vadiveloo are Co-First Author

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Psychological Issues

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Raynor, H.A., Vadiveloo, M. Understanding the Relationship Between Food Variety, Food Intake, and Energy Balance. Curr Obes Rep 7, 68–75 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-018-0298-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-018-0298-7

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