Food taste and macronutrient content: Different associations with self-reported hunger and desire to eat

Background Self-reported hunger and desire to eat are frequently measured in relation to food consumption, with differences between responses sometimes reported, suggesting subtle differences between the two concepts. This study sought to investigate potential differences between self-reports of hunger and desire to eat in association with desire-to-consume foods differing in taste, macronutrient content and usual consumption context. Methods On 1 to 4 occasions, 172 participants completed questionnaire measures of hunger, desire to eat and desire to consume 60 different commercially-available foods of sweet and savoury tastes, varying in carbohydrate, fat and protein content, that are usually consumed both as part of a meal or as a snack. Results Using regression analyses for clustered data (338 questionnaire responses from 172 individuals), strong correlations were found between self-reported hunger and desire to eat (B = 0.82, p < 0.01). Hunger ratings were also positively associated with desires for savoury high-protein meal items (B = 3.471, p = 0.02), while desire to eat ratings were positively associated with sweet high-carbohydrate and high-fat meal items, such as cakes and desserts (B = 4.182, p = 0.02), and negatively associated with sweet high-carbohydrate snack items, such as fruit and candy (B = −3.809, p = 0.03). Conclusions These findings suggest that, although hunger and desire to eat are closely related, they are individual concepts, and can be distinguished by desire-to-consume differing foods based on taste and macronutrient content. The specific foods further suggest associations between self-reported hunger and biological need, and between self-reported desire to eat and hedonic or emotional desires.