The Combined Effects of Energy Density and Variety on Intake (VarxED)

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the influence independent fn combined influence of variety and energy density on food intake at a meal. Additionally, individual characteristics will be examined for their influence on the effects of variety and energy density on intake.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Eating Behaviors
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Low Variety; Other: Low ED; Other: High ED; Other: High Variety

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Paige M Cunningham, PhD; Phone Number: 607-255-2650; Email: pmc242@cornell.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Ithaca, New York, United States, 14850
      • Cornell University
      • Contact: Paige M Cunningham, PhD; Phone Number: 607-255-2650; Email: pmc242@cornell.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Paige M Cunningham, PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Regularly consume 3 meals per day
• Like, are willing to eat, and do not have allergies to the study foods
• Are willing to refrain from drinking alcohol the day before study visits
• Are willing to consume a consistent breakfast the day of study visits
• Have a BMI between 18.5-29.9 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Experienced a weight change >5 kg in the past month
• Are a smoker
• Are an athlete in training
• Take medications or have a health condition known to affect appetite
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have ever been diagnosed with an eating disorder or depression
• Specialize in the fields of psychology or nutritional sciences.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Low variety, Low ED; One low energy dense food served	Other: Low Variety; Only one food served; Other: Low ED; Foods are low in energy density
Experimental: Low variety, High ED; One high energy dense foods served	Other: Low Variety; Only one food served; Other: High ED; Foods are high in energy density
Experimental: High variety, Low ED; Three low energy dense foods served	Other: Low ED; Foods are low in energy density; Other: High Variety; Three foods served
Experimental: High variety, High ED; Three high energy dense foods served	Other: High ED; Foods are high in energy density; Other: High Variety; Three foods served

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in food intake	Weight (grams) of the food consumed	Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in energy intake	Energy (kcal) of the food consumed	Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in bite count	The number of bites of food during the meal	Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in sip count	The number of sips of water during the meal	Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in switching between bites and sips	The number of switches between bites and sips during the meal	Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of hunger	Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all hungry (0 mm) to extremely hungry (100 mm)	From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of thirst	Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all thirsty (0 mm) to extremely thirsty (100 mm)	From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of fullness	Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all full (0 mm) to extremely full (100 mm)	From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in meal duration	Duration of the meal in minutes	Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of desire to eat food samples	Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all strong (0 mm) to extremely strong (100 mm), in answer to "How strong is your desire to eat [this food] right now?". This will be used to calculate Sensory-Specific Satiety.	From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of nausea	Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all nauseated (0 mm) to extremely nauseated (100 mm)	From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of prospective consumption	Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from nothing at all (0 mm) to a large amount (100 mm), in answer to "How much food do you think you could eat right now?".	From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in water intake	Weight (grams) of water consumed	Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in eating rate	Mean food intake per minute (grams/minute), calculated by dividing meal food intake by meal duration	Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in bite size	Mean grams of food consumed per bite, calculated by dividing meal food intake by number of bites.	Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of liking of the taste of food samples	Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all pleasant (0 mm) to extremely pleasant (100 mm). This will be used to calculate Sensory-Specific Satiety	From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cornell University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Paige M Cunningham, PhD, Cornell University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 17, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 17, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 23, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 17, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Behavior, Animal; Feeding Behavior
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB0150706

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No