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The reproducibility of subjective appetite scores

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Anne Raben ,
ANNA TAGLIABUE  and
Arne Astrup
Anne Raben
Affiliation:
Research Department of Human Nutrition, Centre for Food Research, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark
ANNA TAGLIABUE
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Pavia, Italy
Arne Astrup
Affiliation:
Research Department of Human Nutrition, Centre for Food Research, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Abstract

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Although subjective appetite scores are widely used, studies on the reproducibility of this method are scarce. In the present study nine healthy, normal weight, young men recorded their subjective appetite sensations before and during 5 h after two different test meals A and B. The subjects tested each meal twice and in randomized order. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, 10 cm in length, were used to assess hunger, satiety, fullness, prospective food consumption and palatability of the meals. Plasma glucose and lactate concentrations were determined concomitantly. The repeatability was investigated for fasting values, Δ-mean 5 h and mean 5 h values, Δ-peak/nadir and peak/nadir values. Although the profiles of the postprandial responses were similar, the coefficients of repeatability (CR = 2SD) on the mean differences were large, ranging from 2·86 to 5.24 cm for fasting scores, 1·36 to 1·88 cm for mean scores, 2·98 to 5·42 cm for Δ-mean scores, and 3·16 to 6·44 cm for peak and Δ-peak scores. For palatability ratings the CK values varied more, ranging from 2·38 (taste) to 8·70 cm (aftertaste). Part of the difference in satiety ratings could be explained by the differences in palatability ratings. However, the low reproducibility may also be caused by a conditioned satiation or hunger due to the subjects' prior experience of the meals and therefore not just be a reflection of random noise. It is likely, however, that the variation in appetite ratings is due both to methodological day-to-day variation and to biological day-to-day variation in subjective appetite sensations.

Keywords

AppetiteHungerSatietyVisual analogue scale
Type
Dietary assessment and body composition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 73 , Issue 4 , April 1995 , pp. 517 - 530
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1995

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