Some studies show that as a child ages, he or she loses the ability to self-regulate energy intake. Here is one such study. In this particular study, children offered larger portion sizes consumed more calories than children offered average portion sizes. However, the real story is in the details.
The entree used in the study was macaroni and cheese - a modern, high-calorie food. To me, all this study shows is that children cannot self-regulate energy intake when given non-Paleolithic foods. The same premise holds true for animals. Animals in the wild eating natural food self-regulate and maintain an appropriate body size. Pet animals given commercial foods with additives often grow overweight or obese.
Another finding I see is that children lose the ability to self-regulate food once they start school. Here there are probably two factors at work: 1) children are being fed modern, high-calorie foods through school meals, and 2) children are scheduled to eat at certain times, whether they are hungry or not.
I think the scheduling aspect is something that gets overlooked. Without rigid mealtimes, a person can be more in tune with their hunger and their nutritional needs.
The body evolved to self-regulate the consumption of natural foods. Clearly, the majority of the population cannot self-regulate with the new foods available, as evidenced by the overweight and obesity statistics. I don't think people lose the ability to self-regulate foods as they age - they just encounter more unnatural foods that the body can't regulate much at all.
Some studies show that as a child ages, he or she loses the ability to self-regulate energy intake. Here is one such study. In this particular study, children offered larger portion sizes consumed more calories than children offered average portion sizes. However, the real story is in the details.
The entree used in the study was macaroni and cheese - a modern, high-calorie food. To me, all this study shows is that children cannot self-regulate energy intake when given non-Paleolithic foods. The same premise holds true for animals. Animals in the wild eating natural food self-regulate and maintain an appropriate body size. Pet animals given commercial foods with additives often grow overweight or obese.
Another finding I see is that children lose the ability to self-regulate food once they start school. Here there are probably two factors at work: 1) children are being fed modern, high-calorie foods through school meals, and 2) children are scheduled to eat at certain times, whether they are hungry or not.
I think the scheduling aspect is something that gets overlooked. Without rigid mealtimes, a person can be more in tune with their hunger and their nutritional needs.
The body evolved to self-regulate the consumption of natural foods. Clearly, the majority of the population cannot self-regulate with the new foods available, as evidenced by the overweight and obesity statistics. I don't think people lose the ability to self-regulate foods as they age - they just encounter more unnatural foods that the body can't regulate much at all.