Abstract

BARRAGAN CARMONA, María del Carmen et al. Fasting effect on eating behavior in university students. Rev. Mex. de trastor. aliment [online]. 2014, vol.5, n.2, pp.124-135. ISSN 2007-1523.

Scientific evidence on the characterization of eating behavior indicates that food deprivation situations, such as fasting, the food value increases and alter the feeding pattern. Consequently food consumption increases and therefore caloric intake. The situation worsens when after a deprivation period the preferred foods are unhealthy or consumed in excess becoming tiggers for health problems (Capaldi, 1993; Gottschalk , Libby & Graff , 2000; Velez & Garcia , 2003). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fasting on caloric intake and changing food preferences. This study was conducted with the participation of 9 university students who were classified according to their Body Mass Index (BMI) into three groups: Low-weight, Normo-weight and Over-weight. At the baseline participants were exposed to eight different foods. Same participants during the experimental phase were exposed to a period of fasting, subsequently were exposed to the same foods and record their consumption. Results showed that caloric intake and food preferences were altered after the fasting condition, differential effects among participants were observed. Low-weight group increased their food consumption while Normal-weight and Over-weight groups decreased.

Keywords : BMI; fasting; food preferences; caloric intake.

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