Behavioural and metabolic characterisation of the low satiety phenotype

•The SQ is a useful, valid and reliable marker of susceptibility to overeating.•The low satiety phenotype expressed a lower SQ i.e. satiety efficiency.•The LSP seems to be associated with stress/anxiety.

Some individuals report weak appetite sensations and thus, have higher susceptibility to overeating. The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the reliability of the satiety quotient (SQ), a marker of satiety efficiency; (2) to characterize the biopsychobehavioural profiles of individual presenting low satiety efficiency, i.e. the low satiety phenotype and (3) to document the impact of a weight loss program on these profiles. Sixty-nine obese men (BMI 33.6 ± 3.0 kg/m2, age 41.5 ± 5.7 years) participated in a 16-week, non-restrictive weight loss intervention. Visual analog scales for appetite sensations in response to a test-meal were completed twice at baseline. Blood samples were collected before and during one test-meal. Questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention. The mean SQ showed good reliability (ICC = 0.67). Baseline SQ scores tended to be negatively correlated with external hunger, anxiety and night eating symptoms (p < 0.10). Moreover, the low satiety phenotype showed a lower cortisol response to the test-meal (p < 0.05). The SQ seems to be a reliable marker of weaker appetite sensation responses. Stress/anxiety could be involved in the low satiety phenotype but did not influence the biopsychobehavioural changes in response to the intervention.