Taking people in ItalyNo phase

Taste Perception and Eating Behavior in People With Obesity

Studies taste sensitivity in adults with obesity, with and without binge eating or food addiction.

Key facts

Who runs it: Istituto Auxologico Italiano
Where: Milan, ItalySee the site
Trial code: NCT05772052
Registry title: Abnormal Eating and Taste Perception in Subjects With Obesity
Status: Recruiting
People taking part: 300 people, planned
Started: 2 Nov 2020
Expected to end: 31 Dec 2026
Type of study: Observational
Record updated: 3 October 2025

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with obesity, with or without binge eating or food addiction. It studies how they perceive sweet and salty tastes.

Age: 18 to 60 years
Sex: All sexes can join.
Disease stage: Obesity with a BMI above 30 kg/m2 and below 45 kg/m2.
Earlier treatment: People who have had bariatric surgery cannot join.

Main reasons for not taking part

Pregnancy or childbirth in the last 6 months
Thyroid disorders
Endocrine abnormalities associated with obesity
Major psychiatric disorder, even when treated with medicine
Bariatric surgery in the past

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 9 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

BMI>30 kg/m2 and <45 kg/m2

Who cannot take part

patients who had undergone bariatric surgery
thyroid disorders
current or recent oral, nasal or sinus infections
major psychiatric disorder even in pharmacological compensation
uncooperative patients
heavy smokers
pregnancy or recent (in the last 6 months) childbirth
presence of endocrine abnormalities associated with obesity

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

Are you between 18 and 60 years old?

Where in Italy

Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilan, ItalyContact: Luisa Gilardini, MDTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

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.

Read full original descriptionShow less

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.