DOWN AT THE MOUTH

How might muted taste buds affect your eating behavior? For some, a dulled sense of taste could lead to overconsumption — whereas others might simply lose interest in the food that no longer tickles their taste buds. In either case, being watchful, even to the extent of keeping a food diary, could help prevent unwanted weight gain (or loss).

When it comes to stress, however, it seems that most folks (women and dieters in particular) react by increasing consumption of sweet, fatty foods. Another group of British researchers told test subjects to prepare a four-minute speech that would be filmed, after lunch. The result: Those with the speech assignment on their minds ate significantly more sweet, fatty foods than the control group (given no such speechwriting task).

Researchers at Montclair State University found that gender plays a role, with females under stress are more likely than men to over-consume sugary, high-fat foods. Being on a diet also makes a difference: 71% of dieters vs. 35% of non-dieters eat more unhealthy foods under stress.

Published January 1, 2007