25 Participants Needed

Sensory Cues for Eating Behavior

CM
Overseen ByChristina M Blackmon
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Penn State University
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It might be best to discuss this with the trial coordinators.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Pleasant Smell, Unpleasant Smell for influencing eating behavior?

Research shows that exposure to pleasant food odors can increase appetite and food intake, as seen in studies where ambient odors like chocolate and beef increased salivation and food consumption. This suggests that pleasant smells might help influence eating behavior by enhancing appetite.12345

Is exposure to different smells safe for influencing eating behavior?

The studies suggest that exposure to different smells, such as food odors, is generally safe for humans and can influence appetite and food intake without any reported harmful effects.12367

How does the treatment using pleasant and unpleasant smells differ from other treatments for eating behavior?

This treatment is unique because it uses the sense of smell to influence eating behavior, which is different from traditional methods that might focus on diet or medication. By using pleasant and unpleasant smells, it aims to trigger specific appetites and potentially alter food intake through sensory cues, rather than directly affecting metabolism or digestion.138910

What is the purpose of this trial?

Many factors influence eating choices among humans (mood, taste, convenience, time of day, etc.). Finding simple ways to decrease food intake or improve food choices could improve weight status and overall health of the general population. The purpose of this study is to see if city and/or nature smells affect human eating behavior within a virtual reality-simulated outdoor café. The researchers of this study believe that a better understanding of how smells affect eating behavior could lead to public guidelines that direct the construction and layout of such outdoor eating environments to better support healthy behaviors.

Research Team

TM

Travis Masterson

Principal Investigator

The Pennsylvania State University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for healthy individuals interested in participating in a study that explores how different smells influence eating behavior. There are no specific inclusion or exclusion criteria provided, so it's open to the general healthy population.

Inclusion Criteria

Not color blind
Free of self-reported food allergies/food sensitivities
Fluent in English
See 5 more

Exclusion Criteria

Suffers from color blindness
Have self-reported food allergies
I have had a hair transplant within the last 6 months.
See 6 more

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants experience different scents in a virtual reality-simulated outdoor café to study the influence on eating behavior.

2 visits over 1 week
2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in eating behavior and responses to sensory cues after the VR experience.

1 week

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Pleasant Smell
  • Unpleasant Smell
Trial Overview The study tests whether pleasant or unpleasant smells can affect food choices and intake within a virtual reality setting that simulates an outdoor café. It aims to understand if sensory cues like city or nature smells have an impact on eating behaviors.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Unpleasant FirstExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants will experience the unpleasant smell in the participant's first visit and the pleasant smell in the participant's second visit.
Group II: Pleasant FirstExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants will experience the pleasant smell in the participant's first visit and the unpleasant smell in the participant's second visit.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Penn State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
380
Recruited
131,000+

Findings from Research

In a study involving 32 normal-weight young women, exposure to ambient food odors, particularly those associated with high-energy dense products like chocolate and beef, significantly increased both food intake and salivation compared to a no-odor control condition.
While the odors did not specifically increase appetite for the exact foods presented, overall appetite ratings were significantly higher during odor exposure, suggesting that ambient food scents can influence eating behavior and potentially affect nutritional status.
Impact of ambient odors on food intake, saliva production and appetite ratings.Proserpio, C., de Graaf, C., Laureati, M., et al.[2018]
Ambient exposure to food odors, specifically a bread scent, significantly increased the amount of low-energy vegetable soup consumed by 30 obese women, indicating that smell can enhance food intake.
The study also found that the food odor exposure heightened both general appetite and sensory-specific appetite for similar food products, suggesting that odors can influence eating behavior and energy intake in obese individuals.
Ambient Odor Exposure Affects Food Intake and Sensory Specific Appetite in Obese Women.Proserpio, C., Invitti, C., Boesveldt, S., et al.[2020]
The sense of smell primarily acts as a trigger for appetite, specifically increasing desire for certain foods when exposed to their odors, although its impact on actual food choice and intake can vary based on factors like awareness and individual personality traits.
Taste functions as a critical nutrient detection system during eating, influencing how quickly we eat and contributing to feelings of fullness, which can help in managing overall energy intake and potentially reducing obesity.
The Differential Role of Smell and Taste For Eating Behavior.Boesveldt, S., de Graaf, K.[2017]

References

Impact of ambient odors on food intake, saliva production and appetite ratings. [2018]
Ambient Odor Exposure Affects Food Intake and Sensory Specific Appetite in Obese Women. [2020]
The Differential Role of Smell and Taste For Eating Behavior. [2017]
Investigating the Link between Eating Attitudes, Taste and Odour Preferences and the Chemical Senses. [2023]
Chemosensory impairment does not diminish eating pleasure and appetite in independently living older adults. [2018]
Individual differences in the perception of orthonasal irritation induced by food. [2020]
Orthonasal olfactory influences on consumer food behaviour. [2023]
The importance of the olfactory system in human well-being, through nutrition and social behavior. [2022]
Brain mechanisms of flavor learning. [2021]
10.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Stability and flexibility of the message carried by semiochemical stimuli, as revealed by devaluation of carbon disulfide followed by social transmission of food preference. [2021]
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