Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-6501, USA.
Proc Nutr Soc. 2010 Feb;69(1):70-9. doi: 10.1017/S0029665109991674. Epub 2009 Dec 3.
Obesity is a rapidly-growing public health problem that is related in part to the foods available in the eating environment. Properties of foods such as portion size and energy density (kJ/g) have robust effects on energy intake; large portions of energy-dense foods promote excess consumption and this effect starts in early childhood. Studies show, however, that in both adults and children these food characteristics can also be used strategically to moderate energy intake, as well as to improve diet quality. Dietary energy density can be reduced by increasing intake of water-rich foods such as vegetables and fruits. Their high water content allows individuals to eat satisfying portions of food while decreasing energy intake. Filling up at the start of a meal with vegetables or fruit and increasing the proportion of vegetables in a main course have been found to control hunger and moderate energy intake. Data from several clinical trials have also demonstrated that reducing dietary energy density by the addition of water-rich foods is associated with substantial weight loss even though participants eat greater amounts of food. Population-based assessments indicate that beginning in childhood there is a relationship between consuming large portions of energy-dense foods and obesity. These data suggest that the promotion of diets that are reduced in energy density should be an important component of future efforts to both prevent and treat obesity.
肥胖是一个迅速增长的公共卫生问题，部分与饮食环境中可获得的食物有关。食物的特性，如份量大小和能量密度（kJ/g），对能量摄入有强大的影响；大量的高能量食物会促进过度摄入，这种影响早在儿童期就开始了。然而，研究表明，在成年人和儿童中，这些食物特性也可以被战略性地用于控制能量摄入，以及改善饮食质量。通过增加富含水分的食物（如蔬菜和水果）的摄入，可以降低膳食能量密度。它们的高水分含量可以让个人在减少能量摄入的同时，吃到满足份量的食物。在用餐开始时用蔬菜或水果填满胃，增加主菜中蔬菜的比例，已被发现可以控制饥饿感，控制能量摄入。几项临床试验的数据还表明，通过添加富含水分的食物来降低膳食能量密度与显著的体重减轻有关，尽管参与者摄入了更多的食物。基于人群的评估表明，从儿童期开始，摄入大量高能量食物与肥胖之间存在关系。这些数据表明，减少能量密度的饮食推广应该是未来预防和治疗肥胖的重要组成部分。
