Energy density and satiety
Energy density is a measure of the kcal/g in a given weight of food or drink. When we have free access to a range of foods, studies suggest that we will eat roughly the same volume of food each day. Rolls (10) showed that energy density of food impacted on calories consumed by both lean and obese women. They took in fewer calories when they ate low energy dense foods and they ate a similar volume, but not weight, of food.
100g of grapes will have fewer calories than 100g of raisins, regardless of the fact that they are the same weight; if we choose foods that are lower in energy density, are we more likely to have a lower calorie intake? Energy density is important in the satiety response and may be more important than macronutrient content. Lower-energy density foods appear to be more satiating than higher-energy density foods. Compare how much fuller you would feel if you ate 100kcal of grapes compared to 100kcal of raisins (10).
Also energy density is influenced by fat intake, it can also be modified just by adding water, with the consequence that satiety might be increased without changing fat (11, 12).
