Behavioural and metabolic characterisation of the low satiety phenotype

Some individuals report weak appetite sensations and thus, have higher susceptibility to overeating. The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the reliability of the satiety quotient (SQ), a marker of satiety efficiency; (2) to characterize the biopsychobehavioural profiles of individual presenting low satiety efficiency, i.e. the low satiety phenotype and (3) to document the impact of a weight loss program on these profiles. Sixty-nine obese men (BMI 33.6 ± 3.0 kg/m2, age 41.5 ± 5.7 years) participated in a 16-week, non-restrictive weight loss intervention. Visual analog scales for appetite sensations in response to a test-meal were completed twice at baseline. Blood samples were collected before and during one test-meal. Questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention. The mean SQ showed good reliability (ICC = 0.67). Baseline SQ scores tended to be negatively correlated with external hunger, anxiety and night eating symptoms (p < 0.10). Moreover, the low satiety phenotype showed a lower cortisol response to the test-meal (p < 0.05). The SQ seems to be a reliable marker of weaker appetite sensation responses. Stress/anxiety could be involved in the low satiety phenotype but did not influence the biopsychobehavioural changes in response to the intervention.