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Poor sense of smell could contribute to weight gain

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Thu, 6 Dec 2018, 4:42PM
An Otago University study has found a link between a sense of smell and obesity. (Photo / Getty)

Poor sense of smell could contribute to weight gain

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Thu, 6 Dec 2018, 4:42PM

A dulled sense of smell could help explain why it's hard for some overweight people to give up junk food.

New Zealand researchers say they've turned up a link between smell and weight, saying obese people are less likely to have a keen nose.

Otago University's Dr Mei Peng, the study's author, says a person's metabolism changes when they gain excess fat which she believes causes the lowered sense of smell.

She says that can help the person become more obese.

"A less sensitive sense of smell means a person is more likely to make some bad food choices, so that leads to a snowballing effect in terms of body weight."

Peng found people having gastric bypasses didn't recover their sense of smell as well as people who had full stomach removals.

"Stomach removal is actually less invasive for a crucial nerve, and therefore helps stimulate the brain centre that is responsible for smell."

LISTEN TO DR MEI PENG TALK WITH LARRY WILLIAMS ABOVE

 

 

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