Food preferences are defined by a number of measurable parameters, such as per se food choices, sensitivity of taste and olfactory sensory perceptions, hedonic appreciation of foods ("liking") and motivation to consume them ("wanting"). These food preferences are fundamental to the quality of food intake, and are therefore a key factor influencing weight loss or maintenance of a stable weight. Obesity is also associated with reduced sensory sensitivity to taste and smell, as well as disturbances in the responses of the food reward system. However, the internal, or physiological, mechanisms impacting these food preferences are still poorly understood. To date, several studies seem to point to the role of body composition, in particular visceral adiposity, or adiposity surrounding the digestive organs. Indeed, a high level of visceral adiposity is associated with the onset of numerous cardiometabolic disorders, but also with altered sensory perceptions. This relationship could be mediated by the vagus nerve, which connects the digestive organs to the brain, enabling the perception of internal signals sent by the body, such as feelings of hunger or satiety. Low vagal activity is associated not only with abdominal obesity, but also with reduced sensory sensitivity to taste and smell, and changes in food choices in favor of energy-dense foods (rich in fats and/or sugars). Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve is now recognized as a possible treatment for morbid obesity in the USA, but the mechanisms leading to the expected weight loss are still debated. Similarly, an increase in vagal tone has been found in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery for the treatment of severe complicated to morbid obesity, in parallel with sensory disturbances. The overall aim of this project is to explore and confirm the relationship between visceral adiposity and various food preference parameters, such as olfactory and gustatory perceptions and reward system responses, involving liking and wanting certain foods and associated behaviors. This project also aims to shed light on the possible mediation of the vagus nerve in this relationship.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
70
Visceral adiposity assess by the visceral adiposity index
IUCPQ
Québec, Quebec, Canada
RECRUITING"Taste Strips" total score
Taste identification score for sweet, salty, bitter, and sour (/16). The test used is "Taste Strips" (ODOFIN, Burghart Messtechnik GmbH, Holm, Germany).
Time frame: Baseline
TDI score, or "Sniffin Sticks" total score
Olfaction score based on odor detection (Threshold), Discrimination, and Identification (/48). The test used is "Sniffin Sticks" (ODOFIN, Burghart Messtechnik GmbH, Holm, Germany).
Time frame: Baseline
"Explicit liking" score for high-fat/sweet foods
"Explicit liking" will be measured using visual analog scales anchored at each end with "not at all" and "extremely" to answer the question "How pleasant would it be to taste this food now?" while seeing pictures of food items. (/100) The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
"Explicit liking" score for high-fat/savoury foods
"Explicit liking" will be measured using visual analog scales anchored at each end with "not at all" and "extremely" to answer the question "How pleasant would it be to taste this food now?" while seeing pictures of food items. (/100) The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
"Explicit liking" score for low-fat/high-sweet foods
"Explicit liking" will be measured using visual analog scales anchored at each end with "not at all" and "extremely" to answer the question "How pleasant would it be to taste this food now?" while seeing pictures of food items. (/100) The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
"Explicit liking" score for low-fat/savoury foods
"Explicit liking" will be measured using visual analog scales anchored at each end with "not at all" and "extremely" to answer the question "How pleasant would it be to taste this food now?" while seeing pictures of food items. (/100) The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
"Explicit wanting" score for high-fat/sweet foods
"Explicit wanting" will be measured using visual analog scales anchored at each end with "not at all" and "extremely" to answer the question "How much would like to eat some of this food now?" while seeing pictures of food items. (/100) The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
"Explicit wanting" score for high-fat/savoury foods
"Explicit wanting" will be measured using visual analog scales anchored at each end with "not at all" and "extremely" to answer the question "How much would like to eat some of this food now?" while seeing pictures of food items. (/100) The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
"Explicit wanting" score for low-fat/sweet foods
"Explicit wanting" will be measured using visual analog scales anchored at each end with "not at all" and "extremely" to answer the question "How much would like to eat some of this food now?" while seeing pictures of food items. (/100) The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
"Explicit wanting" score for low-fat/savoury foods
"Explicit wanting" will be measured using visual analog scales anchored at each end with "not at all" and "extremely" to answer the question "How much would like to eat some of this food now?" while seeing pictures of food items. (/100) The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
"Implicit wanting" score for high-fat/sweet foods
"Implicit wanting" will be calculated using a forced-choice task. It involves the presentation of successive pairs of food pictures, each pair being the object of a spontaneous preferential choice by the volunteer. A score is calculated from the frequency of choice and non-choice of said category and the reaction time of the participants. This score ranges from -100 to 100 and is interpreted in relation to the scores for the other food categories assessed in the task. A positive score indicates that the food category under consideration was chosen more often and more quickly than the others. A negative score indicates the opposite. The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
"Implicit wanting" score for high-fat/savoury foods
"Implicit wanting" will be calculated using a forced-choice task. It involves the presentation of successive pairs of food pictures, each pair being the object of a spontaneous preferential choice by the volunteer. A score is calculated from the frequency of choice and non-choice of said category and the reaction time of the participants. This score ranges from -100 to 100 and is interpreted in relation to the scores for the other food categories assessed in the task. A positive score indicates that the food category under consideration was chosen more often and more quickly than the others. A negative score indicates the opposite. The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
"Implicit wanting" score for low-fat/sweet foods
"Implicit wanting" will be calculated using a forced-choice task. It involves the presentation of successive pairs of food pictures, each pair being the object of a spontaneous preferential choice by the volunteer. A score is calculated from the frequency of choice and non-choice of said category and the reaction time of the participants. This score ranges from -100 to 100 and is interpreted in relation to the scores for the other food categories assessed in the task. A positive score indicates that the food category under consideration was chosen more often and more quickly than the others. A negative score indicates the opposite. The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
"Implicit wanting" score for low-fat/savoury foods
"Implicit wanting" will be calculated using a forced-choice task. It involves the presentation of successive pairs of food pictures, each pair being the object of a spontaneous preferential choice by the volunteer. A score is calculated from the frequency of choice and non-choice of said category and the reaction time of the participants. This score ranges from -100 to 100 and is interpreted in relation to the scores for the other food categories assessed in the task. A positive score indicates that the food category under consideration was chosen more often and more quickly than the others. A negative score indicates the opposite. The task used is the "Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire".
Time frame: Baseline
Standard deviation of the N-N interval (SDNN)
Parameter of the heart rate variability, indirect indicator of the vagal tone (ms). Standard deviation of NN intervals. Measured using a 48 hours Holter monitor.
Time frame: Baseline
pNN50
Parameter of the heart rate variability, indirect indicator of the vagal tone (%). Percentage of successive R-R intervals that differ by more than 50 ms. Measured using a 48 hours Holter monitor.
Time frame: Baseline
Root mean square of successive N-N interval difference (RMSSD)
Parameter of the heart rate variability, indirect indicator of the vagal tone (ms). Root mean square of successive R-R interval differences. Measured using a 48 hours Holter monitor.
Time frame: Baseline
Low Frequency (LF)
Parameter of the heart rate variability, indirect indicator of the vagal tone (ms²). Power spectral density of low frequencies. Measured using a 48 hours Holter monitor.
Time frame: Baseline
High Frequency (HF)
Parameter of the heart rate variability, indirect indicator of the vagal tone (ms²). Power spectral density of high frequencies. Measured using a 48 hours Holter monitor.
Time frame: Baseline
LF/HF ratio
Parameter of the heart rate variability, indirect indicator of the vagal tone (a.u.). Measured using a 48 hours Holter monitor.
Time frame: Baseline
Sweet Perceived Intensity
Measured during the "Taste Strips" using "9 Likert scales" ranging from "no taste" to "intense" will be used. A score ranging from 1 to 9 will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline
Salty Perceived Intensity
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Measured during the "Taste Strips" using "9 Likert scales" ranging from "no taste" to "intense" will be used. A score ranging from 1 to 9 will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline
Bitter Perceived Intensity
Measured during the "Taste Strips" using "9 Likert scales" ranging from "no taste" to "intense" will be used. A score ranging from 1 to 9 will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline
Sour Perceived Intensity
Measured during the "Taste Strips" using "9 Likert scales" ranging from "no taste" to "intense" will be used. A score ranging from 1 to 9 will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline
Sweet Perceived Appreciation
Measured during the "Taste Strips" using "9 Likert scales" ranging from "extremely unpleasant" to "extremely pleasant" will be used. A score ranging from 1 to 9 will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline
Salty Perceived Appreciation
Measured during the "Taste Strips" using "9 Likert scales" ranging from "extremely unpleasant" to "extremely pleasant" will be used. A score ranging from 1 to 9 will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline
Bitter Perceived Appreciation
Measured during the "Taste Strips" using "9 Likert scales" ranging from "extremely unpleasant" to "extremely pleasant" will be used. A score ranging from 1 to 9 will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline
Sour Perceived Appreciation
Measured during the "Taste Strips" using "9 Likert scales" ranging from "extremely unpleasant" to "extremely pleasant" will be used. A score ranging from 1 to 9 will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline
Odors Perceived Intensity
Measured during the "Sniffin Sticks" (identification test) using "9 Likert scales" ranging from "no odor" to "intense" will be used. A score ranging from 1 to 9 will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline
Odors Perceived Appreciation
Measured during the "Sniffin Sticks" (identification test) using "9 Likert scales" ranging from "extremely unpleasant" to "extremely pleasant" will be used. A score ranging from 1 to 9 will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline
Satiety volume as a percentage of total volume (Water Load Task)
Indicator of gastric interoceptive capacities obtained during the "Water Load Task".
Time frame: Baseline
Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) score
Evaluates severity of depressive symptoms using a validated questionnaire. Minimum score : 0; Maximun score : 63; Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) score
Evaluates severity of anxiety symptoms using a validated questionnaire. The questionnaire includes two scales (20 items) consisting of a total of 40 questions. For each scale the minimum score is 0 and the maximun score is 80. Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline
Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) score
Evaluates presence of eating disorders using a validated questionnaire. The measure provides four attitudinal subscale scores: Restraint (5 items), Eating Concern (5 items), Shape Concern (8 items), and Weight Concern (5 items). An overall Global score is the mean of the four subscale scores. Responses are on a 7-point ordinal response; minimum score : 0, maximun score: 6; higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline
Food Craving Trait Questionnaire (FCQ T) score
Evaluates severity of cravings using a validated questionnaire. Minimum : 39; Maximum : 234; Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline
Food Craving State Questionnaire (FCQ S) score
Evaluates severity of cravings using a validated questionnaire. Minimum : 15; Maximum : 75; Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline
Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) score
Evaluates attention to intern signals (interoception) using a validated questionnaire. Minimum score: 18; Maximun score: 126; Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline
CCK fasting blood levels
Fasting blood sample. (mmol/L)
Time frame: Baseline
PYY fasting blood levels
Fasting blood sample. (mmol/L)
Time frame: Baseline
GLP-1 fasting blood levels
Fasting blood sample. (mmol/L)
Time frame: Baseline
Glicentine fasting blood levels
Fasting blood sample. (mmol/L)
Time frame: Baseline
Oxytomodulin fasting blood levels
Fasting blood sample. (mmol/L)
Time frame: Baseline
LPS fasting blood levels
Associated with adipose tissue dysfunction. Fasting blood sample. (mmol/L)
Time frame: Baseline
IL-6 fasting blood levels
Associated with adipose tissue dysfunction. Fasting blood sample. (mmol/L)
Time frame: Baseline
Fasting Glycemia
Fasting blood sample. (mmol/L)
Time frame: Baseline
Fasting Insulinemia
Fasting blood sample. (pmol/L)
Time frame: Baseline
Appetite scores
Calculated on the basis of a rating from 0 to 10 for each of the following parameters: sensation of hunger, desire to eat, satiation and prospective consumption. These ratings will be estimated using 100 mm-long visual analog scales annotated with "not at all" and "extremely", on the left and right of the scale respectively, to answer the following questions: "At the moment, how hungry are you?", "At the moment, how hungry are you?", "At the moment, how hungry are you?" and "At the moment, how hungry do you think you are?". Before each tests on the exploration day (taste, olfaction, LFPQ, Water Load Task, questionnaires)
Time frame: Baseline