Contributions of Appetite, Metabolism and Taste Sensitivities In Human Obesity: A Review of Richard D. Mattes’s Research

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the senior research thesis. 2 Richard Mattes has done considerable research in an attempt to discover the mechanisms contributing to obesity and weight loss. Obesity is a growing trend in America that leads to health problems and death. The research of Richard Mattes offers insight into the contributing factors of obesity, and possible preventative and intervening techniques. Mattes exposes cultural increases in food portions, individual food units, and snacking behaviors that may lead to increased energy intake. Increasing energy intake without increasing physical activity can lead to positive energy balance, which leads to weight gain. Mattes also looks at different food forms, such as solids versus liquids, and their effects on satiety. As solids had more satietal value, and chewing was a hypothesized reason, Mattes also investigated the effects of chewing gum on satiety. H