Blog 4: Diminished Taste Buds in Obese Children (Lindsay Chase)

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=163140

There was a new study conducted that shows how children that are obese have diminished taste buds. By having diminished taste buds it can lead to a child eating more than a child with normal taste buds would. There are five tastes including, sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory. The reason children with diminished taste buds eat more is so that they can receive the same taste sensation as a normal child would. The study included a variety of children who had 22 strips put on their tongue that used the five tastes at different intensities. They made sure the children had normal tastes and that they weren't taking medication that would alter their taste buds. 99 obese children and 94 normal children were used during this study. Many of the children could tell the difference between salty and sour but had a hard time telling the difference between  salty and savory.Studies have proven that taste sensations have a lot to do with how much you eat. People who have heightened taste sensitivity tend to eat less because it doesn't take as much food to satisfy the taste sensations. Also these studies proved that there is a link between obesity and taste buds. People with diminished taste buds will eat more to satisfy the taste sensations, and in the end are considered obese. There is obesity all over the world and all people deal with their taste buds and cravings.