Appetite (2002) 39, 207±215 doi:10.1006/appe.2002.0509, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on 1 Research Report Achieving ``proper'' satiety in different social contexts ^ qualitative interpretations from a cross-disciplinary project, sociom×t S. T. Kristensen, L. Holm, A. Raben and A. Astrup Research Department of Human Nutrition,Centre for Advanced Food Studies, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 30 Rolighedsvej, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark (Received 23 April 2002, accepted in revised form 29 May 2002) In nutritional research, the sensations of appetite have mostly been studied as a physiological phenomenon. However, in order to understand the significance of appetite for everyday eating habits, it is pertinent to include the social dimension. In a qualitative interview study, using qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews, we investigated how appetite was experienced and handled in the context of everyday life among 20 men and women. This report examines how qualitative dimensions of appetite are experienced and conceptualised in everyday life. Achieving what was described as proper satiety was found to be of decisive importance for daily eating habits. The experience of being full up, the duration of satiety and the sensuous pleasure of eating were all found to be central dimensions of proper satiety, the definition of which varied according to different social contexts. Whether one ate one's fill in the company of others, alone, at work or in one's spare time turned out to be of decisive importance. A more elaborate understanding of the social dimensions of appetite may help to improve endeavours to prevent overweight and obesity. # 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Introduction Eating in accordance with one's biological need for food seems to be problematic to an increasing number of people. The statistical evidence clearly documents that the percentage of populations defined as obese is increasing (WHO, 1998), as is the number of normal weight individuals who have cyclical eating patterns in which they overeat and then diet by turn (Counihan, 1999). In addition to the influence of genetic factors and a decrease in physical activity, obesity is considered to be caused by eating a diet with too high a fat content and sugar-rich soft drinks. In Denmark 38 (E%) of the daily energy intake consist of fats in contrast to the recom- mended 30 (E%) (Andersen et al., 1996). It is recom- mended to eat meals containing relatively more carbohydrates and proteins for the reason that such meals produce higher satiety than an isocaloric meal with a high fat content. However, there is good reason to ask what it actually means to eat one's fill. Considerable research has been done on how different dietary com- positions influence measurements of satiety. But what we know about how satiety is experienced qualitatively and in different socio-cultural contexts of eating is very limited. In nutritional research based on the natural sciences, appetite regulation and energy intake are mainly seen as a result of physical and biochemical responses to different dietary compositions. Visual analogue scores (VAS-scores) are used in observational and experi- mental studies to provide a quantitative measure of satiety. In this article we will argue that the control of energy intake in the context of everyday life is also based on social norms and cultural meanings. Historical studies have already shown how appetite increasingly The project has been undertaken at the Research Depart- ment of Human Nutrition, the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark. It was financed by The Danish Research Councils. Address correspondence to: S.T. Kristensen, Research Department of Human Nutrition, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 30 Rolighedsvej, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Tel.: + 4535282488; Fax: + 4535282483; E-mail: stk@kvl.dk 0195±6663/02/$ ± see front matter # 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.