Research paper
Barr SB, Wright JC. Postprandial energy expenditure in whole-food and processed-food meals: implications for daily energy expenditure. Food Nutr Res. 2010 Jul 2;54. doi:10.3402/fnr.v54i0.5144
Why we cite it
Crossover study in 17 healthy subjects comparing postprandial energy expenditure after isoenergetic meals matched for macronutrient composition but differing in processing level. A whole-food cheese sandwich (multi-grain bread, cheddar cheese) produced nearly twice the thermic effect as a processed-food sandwich (white bread, processed cheese product): 137 kcal (19.9% of meal energy) vs. 73.1 kcal (10.7%). No difference in subjective satiation. The authors scope the result: “Ingestion of the particular PF meal tested in this study decreases postprandial energy expenditure by nearly 50% compared with the isoenergetic WF meal. This reduction in daily energy expenditure has potential implications for diets comprised heavily of PFs and their associations with obesity.” The finding is one meal pair in 17 people; the daily-expenditure consequence is offered as potential, and the obesity link as an association.
About the author
Sadie B. Barr — BA Biology (Pomona College, Class of 2009). At time of paper: undergraduate student conducting HHMI-funded research under Wright’s supervision. Later MPH (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg), MBA (Johns Hopkins Carey). Career moved into applied nutrition: Revolution Foods, Seed Health, independent R&D/strategy consulting. Not an academic researcher.
Jonathan C. Wright (1961–2019) (senior author/PI) — BA Honours Zoology, MA, DPhil (Oxford, 1984–88; thesis on cryptobiosis in tardigrades). Professor of Biology, Pomona College (1998–2019). William A. Hilton Zoology Professor (endowed chair, 2010). Two-time Wig Distinguished Professor Award winner (Pomona’s highest teaching honor). Core research was ecophysiology of terrestrial isopods and tardigrades — this nutrition paper was outside his area but leveraged his expertise in respirometry/indirect calorimetry. Passed away December 2019, age 58.