Difference in Taste Identification among Obese and Non-Obese Adult Women

Abstract

Background Previous studies have revealed that the sensitivity for taste differs between individuals with low versus high body mass index (BMI). However, this has predominantly been investigated for children and adolescents only. Observational studies on taste identification of adults are rare, conflicting and cannot be interpreted causally. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the difference between taste identification of obese and non-obese adult women. To determine difference in taste identification among obese and non-obese adult women. To investigate both groups’ ability to evaluate the intensity of all four tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, and salty). Limitations a. Time was a limiting factor. b. It was a small scale study hence didn’t involve a large sample. Method In an experimental design we explored taste identification in obese women (n=25) compared to non-obese women (n=25) of age ≥ 30 years. Taste strips were used to measure taste identification overall. Each subject received four taste strips (sweet, bitter, sour, and salty) in a randomized sequence. These strips were placed on the tongue of the subjects and they were asked to identify the taste quality of each strip. Chi-square test was used to analyze the association of taste identification with BMI. Result The findings revealed that obese women were less accurate in identifying tastes overall (p=0.005). Both the groups showed a significant difference in detecting sweet taste (non-obese =92% & obese =76%) and salt taste (non-obese=84% & obese =64%) but these relationships were not statistically proven. There was a statistically proven difference in identification of bitter taste (non-obese 76=% & obese =48%). On the contrary, no difference was found in the identification of sour taste among both groups. (Obese =60% & non obese 60%) Conclusion Obese women were less accurate in identifying tastes than non-obese women. Thus, the hypothesis that obese and non-obese women differ in taste identification was confirmed in the present investigation. However, long-term studies are needed to better understand how these differences are brought about. Nonetheless, taste perception appears more susceptible than originally thought and further insight could potentially help develop strategies for obesity prevention.