Abstract
Aim: Better understanding of aspects of taste in adolescents is needed since it has bearings on food policies, food industry and pharmaceutical design. Furthermore, taste preferences likely play a role in overeating and anorexia. We aimed to validate a questionnaire about taste preferences and dietary habits along with measurements of sense of smell and taste. Methods: We included adolescents from nearby schools in Aarhus, Denmark, from 2017 to 2019. Scoring preferences and habits on a Likert scale, they completed a food item questionnaire. Their chemosensation was tested by the Sniffin’ Sticks and Taste Drop Test. Results: We included 100 adolescents: 53 males, 47 females; average age: 15.9 years (12-17 years). Retest of the questionnaire showed good reliability (Cohen's kappa: 0.5953). Snacks scored the highest average liking (4.48), whereas starches had the highest frequency of consumption (3.64). Bitter taste threshold was positively associated with liking and familiarity with vegetables (P =.032; P =.012), respectively. Healthy self-reported dietary habits were associated with a higher self-reported consumption of vegetables and a decreased consumption of snacks. Conclusion: Adolescents preferred unhealthy food items, but they also reported more frequent consumption of healthy than unhealthy food items. A higher threshold for the bitter taste, that is, being less sensitive to bitter taste, was associated with higher liking and familiarity of vegetables.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) |
Volume | 110 |
Issue | 3 |
Pages (from-to) | 875-880 |
Number of pages | 6 |
ISSN | 0803-5253 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2021 |
Keywords
- adolescents
- chemosensation
- children and nutrition
- food intake habits
- taste preferences
- DISCRIMINATION
- GENETICS
- TAS2R38
- FOOD PREFERENCES
- IDENTIFICATION
- AGE