We’ve all heard the excuse: “I would quit smoking, but I don’t want to go up a pants size.†But new research in the journal Obesity seems to debunk that claim—and even suggests that lighting up can contribute to packing on pounds.
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The researchers served 47 women four cups of vanilla pudding, each with a different amount of fat, and asked them to rate the snacks’ creaminess, sweetness, and the pleasure they experienced while eating it. What they found: Obese women who smoked thought all of the puddings were less sweet and creamy and enjoyed the treats less than non-smokers did.
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What’s the link between cigs and sweets? Both obesity and smoking may hinder your ability to detect flavor, possibly due to a decrease in serotonin levels, a brain chemical that controls the response of your taste buds, the scientists say.
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And it’s not just dessert you have to worry about: Smokers of any weight tended to crave high-fat foods more often than non-smokers, which may explain why they had higher waist-to-hip ratios than women without a nicotine habit. Pair those cravings with a reduced ability to detect the flavor of your food, and you’ll likely end up eating way more than you would if you could fully appreciate the taste.Â
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