Washington: Altering taste buds` sensitivity to fatty food can help shed the flab, say researchers.
A team at Deakin University has found that eating a high fat diet can desensitise a person`s ability to taste fat in foods which may lead to overeating of fatty foods and subsequent weight gain.
The study, published in the `International Journal of Obesity and Clinical Nutrition`, builds on the discovery last year of a sixth taste that is responsive to the fat content of foods.
"Last year we revealed the results of a study that found fat can be added to the tongues taste repertoire, joining the other known tastes of sweet, salt, sour, bitter and umami (in protein rich foods).
"What we have found now is that the taste buds of overweight and obese people are less sensitive to fat in foods and that this could be a reason for their overconsumption of fatty foods," team leader Prof Russell Keast said.
For the latest study, participants were placed on a low fat diet for four weeks and a high fat diet for four weeks. Their ability to taste fat pre- and post- diets was tested.
"We found that placing people on a low fat diet for four weeks significantly increased their ability to identify low concentrations of fat. When the same people were on a high fat diet, the sensitivity to fat did not change in the overweight people, whereas there was a significantly reduced sensitivity for those in the healthy weight range.
"This showed that overweight/obese people were insensitive to high levels of fat in the diet. This provides hope that their body may be able to adapt over a period of time, thereby responding to dietary fat in a similar way as a healthy weight person," Dr Keast said.
The researchers say that people insensitive to fat taste tend to consume more energy because their body does not tell them to stop eating.
"What is measured in the mouth reflects the body`s response to fats. Those who are insensitive to fat taste do not get the fullness signals. So, when consuming a fatty meal, a healthy weight person would start to feel full and stop eating and the gap between meals would also be extended.
"However, those who are insensitive to fat taste do not feel full and therefore keep eating and the gap between meals is also reduced," he said.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.