It sounds absolutely bizarre, but scientists have discovered that overweight people have a stronger and more vivid sense of smell than those of a healthy weight, and this may be why they struggle to eat less.
A study at Yale University found that a heightened ability to smell and imagine odours was linked to food cravings, and this ability was pronounced in obese adults.
The researchers said that most people can imagine a location or sing a song but struggle to imagine smells – even those of their favourite foods.
The study was based on Kavanagh’s Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Desire, which suggests that the creation of vivid mental images is linked to the stimulation of cravings.
Participants were asked to complete several questionnaires, in which they were asked to imagine both the look and smell of certain things and than to rate the vividness with which they imagined them.
Those with a higher BMI reported a greater ability to imagine food and non-food odours vividly.
‘These findings highlight the need for a more individualistic approach in identifying factors that may increase risk for weight gain,’ said Dr Barkha Patel, who led the study.
–
Source: Metro UK