Investigative Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental, Cross-Sectional Study on Food Preference in Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa: Examining Potential Taste Aversion or Enhanced Food Desire in Eating Disorders
In a recent study, researchers aim to uncover the relationship between taste aversions and energy intake suppression in restricting-type anorexia nervosa (AN). The study, approved by the Swiss ethics committee (CER-VD, n° 2016-02150) and the Ethics Review Panel of the University of Luxembourg, will also examine food avoidance related to taste aversion in AN.
Previous research has shown that individuals with AN tend to rate food stimuli as less pleasant and exhibit reduced neural activation in brain areas related to taste and reward processing compared to healthy populations [1]. This diminished pleasure from food may contribute to the restrictive eating behavior characteristic of the disorder.
For bulimia nervosa (BN), while there is less direct neuroimaging evidence regarding taste perception and hedonics, it can be inferred that individuals with BN may have heightened food-related reward sensitivity, contributing to binge behaviors [3].
The study will be conducted in two parts. In Study 1, participants will be presented with four mixtures of sweet-fat stimuli in a sensory test. In Study 2, a full-scale taste reactivity test with psychophysiological and behavioral measures will be conducted.
The study also aims to explore if an increased hedonic valence of sweet, caloric-dense foods may trigger binge-eating episodes in BN. Furthermore, the role of cognitions influencing these mechanisms will be examined.
Responses of currently-ill AN and BN patients will be compared to those who have recovered, and also to healthy normal-weight and underweight individuals. The study will use signal detection theory to analyze responses to taste stimuli.
If taste response profiles are differentially linked to ED types, future studies may investigate taste responsiveness as a useful diagnostic measure in eating disorders (EDs). This research could provide valuable insights into the neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying eating disorders and potentially lead to new treatment strategies.
[1] Neuroimaging Study Reveals Distinctive Alterations in Taste Perception and Hedonics in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Journal of Neuroscience, 2020.
[3] Neurobiology of Eating Disorders: A Focus on Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 2018.
- The study incorporates eye tracking to examine the relationship between taste aversions and food-related behavior in both restricting-type anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), contributing to the health-and-wellness sector and mental-health research.
- As part of the study, nutrition and taste preferences will be explored in AN and BN patients, with a focus on the potential role of increased hedonic valence of sweet, calorie-dense foods in triggering binge-eating episodes in BN, bridging the gap between science, mental-health, and lifestyle Studies.
- The findings from this research could enhance our understanding of food-and-drink choices in eating disorders (EDs), potentially leading to advancements in the health-and-wellness industry, including the development of personalized nutrition plans and improved treatment strategies for EDs.
