ADJUSTMENT IN ENERGY-INTAKE FOLLOWING THE COVERT REMOVAL OF SUGAR FROM THE DIET

The response to the covert removal of around 500 kcal/d from the food of 10 healthy free-living male volunteers was measured over 10 days. A similar amount of energy was added to the food of four subjects. Normal food and drink was available ad libitum, and adjustments in food energy were made by the interchange of sugar and artificial sweeteners. Compensation for the theoretical energy deficit or surplus was incomplete, averaging around 50%. This, however, was very variable, some subjects achieving more than 90% recovery, whereas others failed completely to adjust energy intake within this timespan. It is concluded that the regulation of energy balance in the lean is a long-term phenomenon, conditioned by large day-to-day fluctuations in energy intake. The removal of sugar from the food raised the energy density of the diet. The substitution of artificial sweeteners for sugar caused an increase of 11% in total fat intake. The restoration of sugar had an opposite effect. This inverse relationship between dietary sugar and fat poses problems for those seeking to lose weight, and for the lean attempting to follow current guidelines for a 'healthier' diet without incurring weight loss.