Liking for fat is associated with sociodemographic, psychological, lifestyle and health characteristics

Abstract

Sensory liking influences dietary behaviour, but little is known about specifically associated individual profiles. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between liking for fat-and-salt and fat-and-sweet sensations and sociodemographic, economic, psychological, lifestyle and health characteristics in a large sample. Individual characteristics and liking scores were collected by a questionnaire among 37 181 French adults. Liking scores were constructed using a validated preference questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between liking levels and individual characteristics. In both sexes, subjects belonging to low-level occupational categories (OR 1·39, 95 % CI 1·16, 1·67 in men; OR 1·28, 95 % CI 1·16, 1·41 in women), highly uncontrolled eaters (men: OR 2·90, 95 % CI 2·60, 3·23; women: OR 2·73, 95 % CI 2·27, 3·30) and obese subjects (men: OR 1·45, 95 % CI 1·14, 1·84; women: OR 1·47, 95 % CI 1·29, 1·68) were more likely to have a strong liking for the fat-and-sweet sensation, whereas older individuals (men: OR 0·13, 95 % CI 0·10, 0·16; women: OR 0·11, 95 % CI 0·09, 0·14) and highly cognitive restrainers (men: OR 0·52, 95 % CI 0·44, 0·63; women: OR 0·60, 95 % CI 0·55, 0·66) were less likely to have a strong liking. Regarding liking for the fat-and-salt sensation, the same associations were found and specific relationships were also highlighted: current smokers and heavy drinkers were more likely to strongly prefer the fat-and-salt sensation compared with non-smokers and abstainers or irregular alcohol consumers. The relationship between individual characteristics and a liking for fat sensation provides new and original information that may be useful for a better understanding of the associations between sensory liking and individual behaviour.