Relationship between obesity, weight loss, and taste responsiveness

Obese and mildly overweight subjects found increasingly sweet solutions more pleasant than did normals, and all weight groups found the sweet taste of milkshake pleasant even after a preload and consumed large amounts of the milkshakes.

Abstract

Obese, mildly overweight and normal weight females rated glucose solutions of increasing concentrations for perceived intensity and pleasantness. Obese and mildly overweight subjects found increasingly sweet solutions more pleasant than did normals. Weight loss by dieting did not affect this relationship. Weight loss due to intestinal bypass surgery altered ratings of the pleasantness of glucose solutions, making them appear more similar to ratings given by normal weight individuals. Finally, after weight loss by dieting, all weight groups found the sweet taste of milkshake pleasant even after a preload and consumed large amounts of the milkshake. Prior to weight loss, ingestion of a preload had produced lowered pleasantness ratings and reduced consumption.