title: Changes in Gustatory Function and Taste Preference Following Weight Loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate taste changes of obese children during an inpatient weight reduction treatment in comparison with normal weight children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Obese (n = 60) and normal weight (n = 27) children aged 9-17 years were assessed for gustatory functions using taste strips (taste identification test for the taste qualities sour, salty, sweet, and bitter), taste preferences, and experienced taste sensitivity. Obese children were examined upon admission (T1) and before discharge (T2). Normal weight children served as the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Irrespective of taste quality, obese children exhibited a lower ability to identify taste (total taste score) than normal weight children (P < .01); this overall score remained stable during inpatient treatment in obese children. Group and treatment effects were seen when evaluating individual taste qualities. In comparison with normal weight children, obese children exhibited poorer sour taste identification performance (P < .01). Obese children showed improvement in sour taste identification (P < .001) and deterioration in sweet taste identification (P < .001) following treatment. Subjective reports revealed a lower preference for sour taste in obese children compared with normal weight children (P < .05). The sweet and bitter taste ability at T1 predicted the body mass index z score at T2 (R2= .23, P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified differences in the ability to discriminate tastes and in subjective taste perception between groups. Our findings of increased sour and reduced sweet taste discrimination after the intervention in obese children are indicative of an exposure-related effect on taste performance, possibly mediated by increased acid and reduced sugar consumption during the intervention. Because the sweet and bitter taste ability at T1 predicted weight loss, addressing gustatory function could be relevant in individualized obesity treatment approaches.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Germanctr.de: DRKS00005122.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.affiliation: Psychophysiology of Food Perception, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohla
authors.affiliation: Children Rehabilitation Hospital for Respiratory Diseases, Allergies and Psychosomatics, Wangen i.A., Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dammann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teufel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zipfel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enck
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: isabelle.mack@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: adolescents; children; inpatient; obesity; preference; taste; weight loss