Plaisir épicurien, plaisir viscéral et préférence de tailles de portions alimentaires

Does food pleasure-seeking necessarily lead to excessive consumption? In this article, we distinguish between two types of food pleasure: epicurean pleasure, which is the product of the aesthetic appreciation of the sensory and symbolic value of food, and visceral pleasure, which is related to the satisfaction of urges triggered by hunger or by the food environment. While visceral pleasure-seeking can lead to overeating, we suggest that epicurean pleasure-seeking can be the ally of eating in moderation. We present a scale measuring individual tendency to engage in epicurean pleasure seeking. An analysis conducted in both the United States and Quebec shows that epicurean pleasure in these two cultures is associated with a preference for small food portions-especially for men-while visceral pleasure (measured by urges triggered by the food environment) is associated with a preference for large portions.