Obesity can change our sense of taste

Previous studies have shown that obesity can lead to alterations in the brain, but in new research, scientists have found that being severely overweight alters our sense of taste at the most fundamental level: by changing how our tongues react to different flavors. The intriguing new findings, based on experiments with mice, appear in the journalPLOS ONE.

The new study, conducted by biologists at the University at Buffalo, compared 25 normal mice to 25 of their littermates who were fed a high-fat diet and became obese.

To measure the animals’ response to different tastes, the researchers looked at the calcium signaling process that occurs in taste cells. Lead researcher Kathryn Medler explained that when cells “recognize” a certain taste, there is a temporary increase in the calcium levels inside the cells which can be measured.

Medler found that compared with their slimmer counterparts, the plump mice had fewer taste cells that responded to sweet stimuli. Additionally, the cells that did respond to sweetness reacted weakly.

“Obesity can lead to alterations in the brain, as well as the nerves that control the peripheral taste system, but no one had ever looked at the cells on the tongue that make contact with food,” said Medler. “What we see is that even at this level – at the first step in the taste pathway – the taste receptor cells themselves are affected by obesity.”

How an inability to detect sweetness might encourage weight gain is unclear, but past research has shown that obese people may not taste sweet and savory flavors as well as thinner people. Medler speculates that it’s possible that trouble detecting sweetness may lead obese mice to eat more than their leaner counterparts to get the same “payoff.”

“If we understand how these taste cells are affected and how we can get these cells back to normal, it could lead to new treatments,” Medler concluded. “These cells are out on your tongue and are more accessible than cells in other parts of your body, like your brain.”

Related:
Discuss this article in our forum
Parasitic worms could treat obesity disorders
Tackling obesity by manipulating gut flora
Brain Has Sixth Sense For Calories
Car designs may change to protect obese

Source: University at Buffalo

,

Comments are closed.

Vintage Postcard Obesity Fat Big Butt is the Only Bit of Shade In The Place picture

Vintage Postcard Obesity Fat Big Butt is the Only Bit of Shade In The Place

$13.99



Vintage Postcard 1919 Obesity Good Natured Fat Men Can Neither Run Nor Fight picture

Vintage Postcard 1919 Obesity Good Natured Fat Men Can Neither Run Nor Fight

$13.99



Holy Prayer Card St Charles Borromeo Obesity & Dieting Medal Laminated picture

Holy Prayer Card St Charles Borromeo Obesity & Dieting Medal Laminated

$7.99



St Charles Borromeo Holy Medal & Chain Gastrointestinal Problems Obesity Dieters picture

St Charles Borromeo Holy Medal & Chain Gastrointestinal Problems Obesity Dieters

$13.99



INCREDIBLE MOSCOW FAT BOY Super RARE RUSSIAN FREAK PHOTO Sideshow Circus Obesity picture

INCREDIBLE MOSCOW FAT BOY Super RARE RUSSIAN FREAK PHOTO Sideshow Circus Obesity

$244.99



1978 Press Photo Richard Lampman Obesity Michigan - dfpb66327 picture

1978 Press Photo Richard Lampman Obesity Michigan - dfpb66327

$10.00



ANTIQUE CIVIL WAR ERA TINTYPE PHOTO OF A VERY FAT OBESE WOMAN WITH JEWELRY picture

ANTIQUE CIVIL WAR ERA TINTYPE PHOTO OF A VERY FAT OBESE WOMAN WITH JEWELRY

$26.60



FOUR CIRCUS FAT MEN Rare Antique FREAK PHOTO 1910 Sideshow History OBESE FAMILY  picture

FOUR CIRCUS FAT MEN Rare Antique FREAK PHOTO 1910 Sideshow History OBESE FAMILY

$84.99



1917 Photo: Photograph | men | obesity | body type | New York | NY | Paul Strand picture

1917 Photo: Photograph | men | obesity | body type | New York | NY | Paul Strand

$16.99



K7 Photograph Cute Couple Obese Fat Overweight Man Azure Seas Eating  picture

K7 Photograph Cute Couple Obese Fat Overweight Man Azure Seas Eating

$22.50



Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes