Study finds link between obesity and sense of smell
Obesity is a medical condition characterized by an excessive amount of body fat.
(Online) - A recent review concludes that people with obesity have a reduced ability to detect and discriminate smell compared with those who are not obese.
Obesity is a medical condition characterized by an excessive amount of body fat.
It is a global issue that affects millions of people worldwide, and it is a risk factor for diabetes andheart disease.
Doctors or nutritionists can identify obesity using the body mass index (BMI). The BMI is a diagnostic tool that assesses if a person is an appropriate weight for their age, sex, and height.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global obesity has nearly tripled since 1975.
In 2016, almost 2 billion adults were overweight, of which 650 million were obese. In the same year, 41 million children under 5 years old were overweight or obese.
In 2013, the American Medical Association (AMA) recognized obesity as a disease. The decision changed the way the medical community related to this complex issue. The ruling challenged the widespread idea that obesity is the direct consequence of eating too much and not doing enough physical activity. The AMA argued that "some people do not have complete control of their weight."
Surprising link between weight and smell
The relationship between smell and body weight was a relatively unknown area of scientific study and knowledge, up until now. Researchers from the University of Otago in New Zealand recently discovered a surprising link between obesity and the ability to smell. The team published its findings in Obesity Reviews.
The study involved researchers from Otago’s Departments of Food Science, Anatomy, and Mathematics/Statistics. The scientists gathered scientific papers regarding the link between body weight and sense of smell. They also collected information of nearly 1,500 individuals from "empirical and clinical worldwide studies."
