Fiber diet

A manufacturer was considering marketing crackers high in a certain kind of edible fiber as a dieting aid. Dieters would consume some crackers before a meal, filling their stomachs so that they would feel less hungry and eat less. A laboratory studied whether people would in fact eat less in this way.

Overweight female subjects ate crackers with different types of fiber (bran fiber, gum fiber, both, and a control cracker) and were then allowed to eat as much as they wished from a prepared menu. The amount of food they consumed and their weight were monitored, along with any side effects they reported. Unfortunately, some subjects developed uncomfortable bloating and gastric upset from some of the fiber crackers.

Reference.

This data is distributed with the software package, Data Desk. Data Description, Inc. (1993). Data Desk. Ithaca, NY: Data Description, Inc.

Description.

Effects of dietary fiber. 12 female subjects were fed a controlled diet. Before each meal they ate crackers containing either bran fiber, gum fiber, a combination of both, or no fiber (control). Their caloric intake was monitored. Subjects reported any gastric or other problems.

Variables.

1. Cracker: Type of fiber in the cracker
2. Diet: One of four diets (type of cracker)
3. Subject: An identification for each of the 12 subjects
4. Digested: Digested calories. Difference between caloric intake and calories passed through system
5. Bloat: Degree of bloating and flatulence reported by the subjects