Abnormal Eating and Taste Perception in Subjects With Obesity

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Obesity

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05772052

Run by

Istituto Auxologico Italiano

People needed

300

Starts

2020-11-02

Expected to finish

2026-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2025-10-03

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 60. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• BMI>30 kg/m2 and <45 kg/m2

You may not qualify if…

• 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

Where it is running

• Istituto Auxologico Italiano — Milan, Italy (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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