Sixth taste fights obesity: Study

Inability to taste fat in food is one of the reasons contributing to excess weight and obesity in some individuals, a new study finds.

The tongue has long been believed to have the ability to detect the main five tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami.

According to the study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the taste of fat in food is the "sixth sense" of the human tongue.

Individuals capable of detecting fatty acids in food are less likely to have excess weight, the study found.

"We found that the people who were sensitive to fat, who could taste very low concentrations, actually consumed less fat than the people who were insensitive," said lead researcher Russell Keast.

The high fat content of modern diets, however, may have desensitized certain individuals to this taste, making them more vulnerable to consuming fatty foods in larger quantities.

Scientists hope their findings will lead to the development of more effective weight loss strategies.

PKH/HGH