Abnormal Eating and Taste Perception in Subjects With Obesity

Recruiting

• Conditions: Obesity

• Registration Number: NCT05772052
• Lead Sponsor: Istituto Auxologico Italiano

Brief Summary

The identification of safe and effective strategies for weight loss and long-term maintenance is critical to reduce the alarming prevalence of obesity worldwide and mitigate obesity-associated health risks. Specifically, Binge Eating (BE) and Food Addiction (FA) behaviors are well known causes of failed weight loss and weight regain. The definitions of their clinical phenotypes are currently evolving. Recent evidence suggests that food choices, behavior and reward may be driven also by taste perception.

The hypothesis of this study is that subjects with dysfunctional eating behavior have different taste thresholds compared to obese subjects without eating disorders, and that this characteristic influences food choice and eating behavior. Identifying a difference in the taste thresholds between obese with and without eating disorder will allow us to understand why certain individuals over-consume or binge on densely caloric foods and to give them a tailored dietary treatment so as to maintain weight loss for a long time.

The Binge eating and Food Addiction is assessed using Binge Eating Scale and Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0. Subjects with obesity recruited are divided in 4 groups: without eating disorder, with food addiction (FA), with binge eating (BE) and with FA + BE. In these groups sweet and salty taste will be measured with the 3-Alternative-Forced-Choice method.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2020-11-02
• Status Verified: 2023-03
• Study First Submitted: 2023-03-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-03-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-03-06
• Study First Posted: 2023-03-16
• Last Update Posted: 2023-03-16
• Primary Completion: 2023-12-31
• Study Completion: 2023-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 300

Inclusion Criteria

• BMI>30 kg/m2 and <45 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria

• uncooperative patients
• heavy smokers
• pregnancy or recent (in the last 6 months) childbirth
• thyroid disorders
• presence of endocrine abnormalities associated with obesity
• current or recent oral, nasal or sinus infections
• major psychiatric disorder even in pharmacological compensation
• patients who had undergone bariatric surgery

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
salt taste recognition threshold	baseline	The salt taste recognition threshold is assessed in subjects without eating disorders, with FA,with BE and FA+ BE
sweet taste recognition threshold	baseline	The sweet taste recognition threshold is assessed in subjects without eating disorders, with FA,with BE and FA+ BE

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
prevalence of Food Addiction (FA) + Binge Eating (BE)	baseline	percentage of subjects recruited with FA+BE
prevalence of Food Addiction (FA)	baseline	percentage of subjects recruited with FA
prevalence of binge eating (BE)	baseline	percentage of subjects recruited with BE

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Istituto Auxologico Italiano; 🇮🇹 Milano, Italy