Abstract
We read with interest the systematic review “Is obesity associated with taste alterations? a systematic review” by Peinado and colleagues investigating the main outcomes of nineteen papers published in the field of obesity and taste perception (1). The topic is of interest considering the burdening of the obesity outbreak (2) and the works pointed to reduce the epidemic have almost failed (3). Emerging results highlighted that the taste system – together with the smell – could be engaged in diverse metabolic processes (for example appetite control and energy homeostasis) possibly influencing body weight and health (4, 5). Some of the feedback-forward processes have been postulated to also rely on different modulators such as leptin, ghrelin, insulin and serum glucose which have been demonstrated to be entangled in the activity of sweet-sensing taste cells (6–8) and to modulate chemosensory pathways at central levels (8, 9).