The association between food cravings and consumption of specific foods in a laboratory taste test

Appetite. 2008 Sep;51(2):324-6. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2008.03.002. Epub 2008 Mar 18.

Abstract

This pilot study tested the relation between food cravings and food intake in the laboratory. Participants (n=91; mean BMI=35.1 kg/m2) completed the Food Craving Inventory to measure cravings for sweets, fats, carbohydrates, and fast food fats, and a taste test consisting of four foods (jelly beans, M&M's, regular potato chips, and baked low-fat potato chips). Thereafter, participants could eat the items ad libitum. Specific food cravings were significantly correlated with consumption of corresponding types of foods. The sweets scale correlated with M&M and jelly bean intake, but not chip intake. The fats scale correlated only with intake of regular potato chips.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Mass Index
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
  • Eating / physiology*
  • Eating / psychology*
  • Energy Intake / physiology*
  • Female
  • Food Preferences / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Obesity / psychology*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Taste

Substances

  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Dietary Fats