besity is a contributor to the major causes of global disease burden, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes [1] and [2]. Both genetic and environmental factors are implicated in obesity: family and twin studies estimate the genetic contribution between 45% to 75% [3] and genome wide association studies (GWAS) implicating loci like FTO and MCR4 [4]. Furthermore, a lack of physical activity and high caloric food consumption such as diets rich in fats and sugars are commonly accepted environmental factors associated with the development of obesity [5].
The sense of taste functions as a nutrient sensing system, and any irregularity may contribute to excess energy intake and obesity. This review explores the association between taste and obesity by examining the evidence for gustatory mechanisms of fatty acid chemoreception (fat taste) and how these mechanisms may be implicated in the reported associations between fat taste threshold, weight gain and obesity.