Chewing gum may help suppress appetite

Researchers in the UK used 60 healthy-weight volunteers to study the effects of chewing gum on their appetite and energy intake.

The participants consumed a set lunch and then rated their hunger, desire to eat different types of foods and their fullness.

Asked not to eat in between, participants completed these ratings hourly until they returned for a snack three hours later.

On half of the occasions participants were required to chew gum in between lunch and the afternoon snack.

It was found that when gum was chewed, hunger ratings were significantly lower, fullness ratings significantly higher and energy intake from the afternoon snack was 8% less.

The researchers noted there were individual differences in the response to chewing gum, and it was not clear whether the same effect would continue over time.

Source: Appetite, May 2007