Taste perception and implicit attitude toward sweet related to body mass index and soft drink supplementation

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 ± 0.2 g/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.

► Overweight/obese individuals (Ov/Ob) perceive sweet and salty as being less intense compared to normal-weight (NW) persons.
► Ov/Ob subjects revealed a trend toward higher pleasantness scores for sweet taste.
► Ov/Ob individuals have a stronger implicit attitude toward sweet food.
► Four week soft drink supplementation altered sweet taste in NW-subjects.
► Soft drink supplementation increased preference for sweet in sucrose dislikers.