Diet composition and energy intake in humans.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review and theoretical synthesis without systematic review methodology
PubMed 37661746 · doi:10.1098/rstb.2022.0449
What was done
This narrative review synthesized evidence on 50-year shifts in macronutrient supply, the hierarchy of macronutrient effects on satiety, the impact of dietary energy density on covert versus naturalistic energy intake, and the role of neuropsychological constructs (hedonic reward, decision-making) in driving obesity.
What was found
The abstract reports no numeric data or statistical measures. It notes that absolute energy from fats and carbohydrates has risen over 50 years. Macronutrients influence satiety in the order of protein > carbohydrates > fat, with minimal differences between fats and carbohydrates when energy density is equalized. Covert increases in energy density elevate energy intake and cause weight gain, whereas naturalistic environments with intact learning cues allow greater intake compensation despite substantial individual variation. Traditional macronutrient feedback models are deemed insufficient to explain modern overconsumption compared to neuropsychological reward and decision-making mechanisms.
Why it matters
It contextualizes obesity research by emphasizing that environmental energy density and neurocognitive reward pathways override homeostatic macronutrient feedback mechanisms.
Limits
As a narrative review, it lacks a systematic literature search and quantitative meta-analytic pooling. Specific effect sizes, sample sizes, and study populations are not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Protein is the most satiating of the macronutrients, more so than carbohydrates and fat.