Comparison of appetite assessment methods in older adults from the APPETITE study

Scheufele P, Horner K, Corish C, Visser M, Rappl A, Mullen B, Quinn A, Gonnelli F, Bozzato M, Volkert D (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Appetite Elsevier

Book Volume: 208

Article Number: 107909

DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.107909

Abstract

Poor appetite is an important health concern in older adults. Numerous methods exist for appetite assessment, without a consensual gold standard. This study aims to compare Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) and two single-item appetite questions with appetite ratings from visual analogue scales (VAS) and energy intake (EI). In 126 community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years from the APPETITE trial, appetite was assessed using SNAQ, SNAQ 1st item, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) 2nd item and using VAS appetite ratings (fasting, 0, 30, 60, 120, 180 min post-breakfast, post-lunch) and EI (ad libitum lunch) in a test meal setting. Spearman correlations were calculated between SNAQ, single-items, VAS-fasting, and EI. Differences in VAS-fasting and EI between normal and poor appetite groups (based on SNAQ, single-items) were examined using Mann-Whitney-U-test. Repeated measures Generalized Linear Models were used to compare all VAS ratings across the test morning and post-breakfast response ratings with VAS-fasting as a covariate between appetite groups. SNAQ score was correlated with VAS-fasting (r = 0.26, p < 0.001) and EI (r = 0.22, p < 0.05). VAS-fasting was lower in the SNAQ-based poor appetite group (p = 0.01). Time/group interaction effects (SNAQ, ηp2 = 0.02; CES-D-item, ηp2 = 0.02) for all VAS ratings, and group (SNAQ-item, ηp2 = 0.04) and interaction effects (CES-D-item, ηp2 = 0.03) for post-breakfast ratings were observed (p < 0.05, respectively). SNAQ identified differences in VAS-fasting, possibly reflecting processes related to the drive to eat, while the two single-items identified appetite differences in response to a standardised breakfast. Different methods appear to capture different aspects of appetite, which should be considered when choosing an assessment method.

Authors with CRIS profile

Pia Scheufele Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin (Geriatrie) Anja Rappl Lehrstuhl für Biometrie und Epidemiologie (IMBE) Dorothee Volkert Professur für Klinische Ernährung im Alter

Involved external institutions

University College Dublin (UCD) IE Ireland (IE) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) / University Amsterdam NL Netherlands (NL) University of Padua / Universita degli Studi di Padova IT Italy (IT)

How to cite

APA:

Scheufele, P., Horner, K., Corish, C., Visser, M., Rappl, A., Mullen, B.,... Volkert, D. (2025). Comparison of appetite assessment methods in older adults from the APPETITE study. Appetite, 208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.107909

MLA:

Scheufele, Pia, et al. "Comparison of appetite assessment methods in older adults from the APPETITE study." Appetite 208 (2025).

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