Research suggests that smelling food before eating can help control appetite and potentially prevent overeating. The study, conducted by German researchers, found that activating specific nerve cells in the brains of mice led to reduced food intake when they were exposed to food odors. However, this response appears to be absent in obese mice, likely due to a disruption in their sense of smell. The findings could have implications for appetite regulation and obesity prevention, emphasizing the role of olfactory senses in eating habits.
Experts found sniffing a meal prior to tucking in could trigger a feeling of fullness that may help prevent people from overeating.
Our study shows how much our daily-lives' eating habits are influenced by the smell of food.
'Since we discovered that the pathway only reduces appetite in lean mice, but not in obese mice, our study opens up a new way to help prevent overeating in obesity.'
We think this mechanism helps mice in the wild protect themselves from predators. By eating for shorter periods, they reduce their chances of being caught.
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