Can satiety be measured?
An energy-controlled study on a Western diet composed of 45% fat, 40% carbohydrate and 15% protein by energy was carried out. The study consisted of four test phases having a length of 9 days in each case, where 8 healthy free-living subjects were adjusted to individual energy requirements at maintenance level. Between the tests, wash-out phases of 4-5 months were inserted to avoid adaptation effects. By using a standard breakfast of constant composition, satiety was evaluated by applying the concept of categorical comparison, which was based on the common fact, that the perception between two meals is changed and usually a set of sensations can be discriminated. These were termed very full and full (just after finishing a meal), appetite and hungry (just before the next meal). These sensations were used as categories on a categorical scale. The evaluation of satiety was performed such that on each day of the four test phases the subjects had to select over a period of 4 h every 30 min
