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  • Original Article
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Odour and taste sensitivity is associated with body weight and extent of misreporting of body weight

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 698–705 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

Sensory factors are important determinants of appetite and food choices but little is known about the relationship between body weight and sensory capabilities.

Objective:

To investigate the relationship between measured body weights, misreporting of body weight and sensory capabilities.

Design:

In a cross-sectional sensory study, body weight was assessed by measured and self-reported body weight in healthy men (n=130) and women (n=181). Sensory capabilities were assessed as odour detection and identification, and detection for salty, sweet, sour and bitter taste.

Results:

Odour detection, odour identification and taste perception scores were lower in subjects with a BMI ⩾28 kg/m2 than in subjects with a BMI <28 kg/m2 in the age group <65 years whereas in subjects ⩾65 years scores were higher in subjects with a BMI ⩾28 kg/m2 than in subjects with a BMI <28 kg/m2 (BMI*age group: P=0.015, 0.053 and 0.015, respectively). Independent of age, scores were highest in under reporters of body weight (P=0.008, 0.001 and 0.017). Differences in taste perception could be attributed to sour (P=0.015) and bitter (P=0.026) perception, but not to salty or sweet perception.

Conclusion:

Relationship between sensory capabilities and body mass is age dependent. Compared to overweight subjects, the sensory capabilities of normal weight individuals appear to be higher (<65 years) and lower (⩾65 years). At any age, however, subjects who under reported their body weight show higher sensory capabilities.

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Acknowledgements

This study has been carried out with financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, specific RTD programme ‘Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources’, QLK1-CT 1999–00010, HealthSense Project: ‘Healthy eating: How changes in sensory physiology, sensory psychology and socio-cognitive factors influence food choice’. It does not necessarily reflect its views and in no way anticipates the Commission's future policy in this area.

Author information

Author notes

  1. U Simchen

    Present address: Symrise, Manager Sensory Consumer Research Mint, Holzminden, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Germany

    U Simchen, C Koebnick, S Hoyer & H-JF Zunft

  2. UMR INRA-ENESAD FALVIC, Dijon Cedex, France

    S Issanchou

  3. Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

    H-JF Zunft

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  1. U Simchen
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  2. C Koebnick
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  3. S Hoyer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C Koebnick.

Additional information

Guarantor: HJF Zunft.

Contributors: US, SH, SI, HJFZ contributed to the design of the study. US, SH, and HJFZ were available for the participants during the study period at the study centre. US, SH performed the sensory tests. CK, US, HJFZ were responsible for the data management, statistical analysis and interpretation of the data. CK and US performed the literature research. All authors contributed to the conduct of the study, data collection and writing of the manuscript.

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Simchen, U., Koebnick, C., Hoyer, S. et al. Odour and taste sensitivity is associated with body weight and extent of misreporting of body weight. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 698–705 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602371

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602371

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