Bariatric surgery, flavor perception, and eating behavior
The precise mechanism(s) by which Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) cause such a dramatic weight loss remains unclear. However, an important body of research suggest that some of the efficacy of these interventions may be explained by surgical-related alterations in neurohumoral responses of the gut-brain axis that play an important role on reward centers in the brain. Both RYGB and SG have profound effects on eating behavior and food preferences (in particular for sweet and fatty foods). Patients frequently report that some of these changes are due to alterations in their sense of taste and smell (i.e. flavor). Yet, few studies have carefully measured changes using validated sensory techniques. We are currently evaluating the effects of different weight-loss surgical procedures on flavor perception and eating behavior.
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