Popcorn and potato chips compared for fullness in adults
What it found
In 35 normal-weight adults, six cups of popcorn left people feeling fuller than one cup of potato chips and led to less energy taken in from a later meal.
One cup of popcorn was as filling as one cup of potato chips even though it had 10 times fewer calories.
What they found
Studies in people
Fullness after snacks
After six cups of popcorn, people reported less hunger, more satisfaction, and lower estimates of how much they could eat compared to all other snacks. One cup of popcorn and one cup of potato chips gave similar fullness ratings even though the popcorn had 15 kcal and the chips had 150 kcal.
Energy intake at meal
People ate less at the later meal after six cups of popcorn or one cup of potato chips compared to water. When the snack and meal were added together, the potato chips condition led to more total energy intake than water or either popcorn portion.
Energy compensation
Energy compensation was 220% after one cup of popcorn, 76% after six cups of popcorn, and 42% after one cup of potato chips. This means people adjusted their later meal intake more completely after popcorn than after potato chips.
Popcorn vs chips
The six-cup popcorn snack gave stronger fullness ratings than one cup of potato chips. The authors suggest popcorn's low energy density, high volume, and lower fat content may explain this.
What the authors conclude
“Popcorn exerted a stronger effect on short-term satiety than did potato chips as measured by subjective ratings and energy intake at a subsequent meal.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that low fat popcorn exerted a stronger effect on short-term satiety than potato chips.
- They suggest that whole grain popcorn is a prudent choice for those wanting to reduce feelings of hunger while managing energy intake and ultimately, body weight.
How it was done
Snack foods make up about one fourth of U.S. adults' daily energy intake, and the authors wanted to compare how two common snacks affect fullness and later eating.
They studied 35 normal-weight non-smoking adults (17 men, 18 women) aged 20 to 50. Each person tried four snacks on separate days: water, one cup of popcorn, six cups of popcorn, and one cup of potato chips. Thirty minutes later, they rated their hunger and ate as much macaroni and cheese as they wanted.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a short-term study in normal-weight adults under 50, so the results may not apply to overweight, obese, or older adults, or to children.
- The study cannot show whether these effects on fullness and energy intake last over longer periods or affect body weight.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Rippe Lifestyle Institute, USA
The paper
- Title
- Popcorn is more satiating than potato chips in normal-weight adults
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Nguyen V, Cooper L, Lowndes J, et al (2012). Popcorn is more satiating than potato chips in normal-weight adults. Nutrition journal. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-11-71Free full textPubMed 22978828DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error