Appetite sensations and eating behaviors to complete fasting in obese and non-obese individuals

Objective: To investigate the response of appetite sensations and eating behaviors to fasting in obese and non-obese individuals. Design: Prospective study on inpatients enrolled in weight loss program including fasting at the obesity clinic, an oriental medical center in Seoul, Korea. Subjects and measurements: For seven obese (body mass index BMI greater than or equal to 30) and 11 non-obese (BMI < 30) patients, the modified visual analog scale (VAS) was administered three times per day throughout 9 days of complete fasting. Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TEEQ) was administered before and 18 days after the complete fasting period. Results: After treatment, average weight losses were 7.4 kg (3.0 BMI) for the obese group and 6.7 kg (2.6 BMI) for the non-obese. TFEQ scales did not differ by weight status at both before and after treatments. Eighteen days after the fasting, an increase of restraint of eating was found only for the non-obese. There was a decrease of disinhibition of eating regardless of weight status. During fasting, desire to eats hunger and prospective consumption decreased for the non-obese, while these appetite sensations tended to increase slightly for the obese. Conclusions: BMI, independent of dieting status, appeared to be related to appetite sensations except for satiety during fasting, but not before and 18 days after fasting.