This morning, during my usual search for interesting news and information regarding childhood obesity, I came across an interesting study conducted by Deakin University in Australia and in conjunction with New Zealand’s Massey University. The University’s scientists have announced the discovery of the “sixth sense” of the human tongue, and are claiming that it may unlock a worthy weapon in the fight against obesity.

Previously, the human tongue was only known to detect five tastes (bitter, salty, sour, sweet and umami). But this study has discovered the tongue can also detect fat. Experts believe this discovery could help in developing foods that trick the body into thinking it has consumed enough fat, helping people eat less junk.

Researcher and Massey University Associate Professor, Matt Golding said that people’s taste threshold for fat varies from person to person – and those who were more sensitive to the taste tended to eat less fatty foods (and be slimmer). “The high fat-tasting population appeared to have a lower BMI [body mass index] than those who had a poor ability to taste fat,” states Golding.

So, how will this be used to help fight the battle of the bulge? Well, researchers claim that the study’s findings could eventually lead to the development of solutions for tackling obesity by promoting the taste of fat in foods.

Interesting concept. I have a hard time imagining what synthetic fat flavor would taste like though. And will it satiate those with a low sensitivity for fatty taste? Will it be like the messy Olestra craze all over again? We shall see.

Read more about this study in this month’s issue of the British Journal of Nutrition.

Tagged as: Australia, British Journal of Nutrition, cure for obesity, Deakin University, fat, human tongue, junk food, Massey University, Matt Golding, new research, obesity, obesity weapon, overweight, synthetic fat, taste, taste's sixth sense

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