title: Taste perception and implicit attitude toward sweet related to body mass index and soft drink supplementation.
abstract: These studies examined the differences in sweet taste perception and implicit attitude toward sweet between normal-weight and overweight/obese adults; and tested the effects of soft drink consumption on sweet taste, explicit preference and implicit attitude toward sweet in normal-weight subjects. In study 1, normal-weight (n = 22) and overweight/obese (n = 11) adults were assessed for sweet taste intensity and pleasantness. Implicit attitude toward sweet was assessed by implicit association test (IAT). In study 2, normal-weight, lightly active adults (n = 12) underwent one month soft drink supplementation (≈760 ml/day). This increased their daily carbohydrate intake by 2.1 ± 0.2g/kg body weight. Sweet taste perception, explicit preference and implicit attitudes to sweet were assessed. In both studies salty taste was also assessed as a contrasting perception. Overweight/obese subjects perceived sweet and salty tastes as less intense (-23% and -19%, respectively) and reported higher IAT scores for sweet than normal-weight controls (2.1-fold). The supplementation changed sweet intensity/pleasantness ratings and it increased explicit preference (2.3-fold) for sweet in a subgroup of initial sucrose-dislikers. In conclusion, overweight/obese individuals are more implicitly attracted to sweet. One month of soft drink supplementation changed sweet taste perception of normal-weight subjects.
authors: College of Health & Behavioral Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2PZ, UK.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Sartor
authors: Lucy F
authors: LF
authors: Donaldson
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Markland
authors: Helina
authors: H
authors: Loveday
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Jackson
authors: Hans-Peter
authors: HP
authors: Kubis