Effects of Gum Chewing on Appetite and Digestion

One obvious property difference between energy-yielding beverages and solid foods is the
oral mechanical processing required to prepare the two food forms for swallowing.
Considerable human data are consistent with a contribution of mechanical stimulation to
appetite suppression. However, no study has isolated this property and assessed its
influence on ingestive behavior in humans. This is the aim of the present study. The null
hypothesis is that food rheology will have no effect on these indices. The alternate
hypothesis is that increased mechanical stimulation will result in stronger
satiation/satiety and reduced energy intake. Further, it is hypothesized that the effects
of mastication will be less evident in obese compared to lean individuals.