Eating behavior in patients with smell loss

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Psychology
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction (OD) affects a significant portion of the population.
• Eating behaviors can be influenced by sensory input, including smell.
• Understanding the link between OD and eating is crucial for patient well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between clinical characteristics and quality of life (QoL) measures with eating behavior in patients with OD.
• To identify specific factors contributing to altered eating patterns in OD patients.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 150 patients with OD of various causes.
• Olfactory function assessed using Sniffin' Sticks (TDI).
• Eating behavior evaluated using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), assessing emotional, external, and restrained eating.

Main Results:

• High prevalence of emotional (54%), external (71.3%), and restrained (68%) eating behaviors in OD patients.
• Multivariate analysis revealed associations between eating styles, age, BMI, OD duration, olfactory function (TDI), QoL measures (QOD-NS, QOD-PS), and importance of olfaction (IOQ).
• Specific clinical and QoL factors were significantly linked to different eating behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Clinical characteristics and olfactory outcomes differentially influence eating styles in OD patients.
• Altered eating behaviors are common in individuals with OD.
• Clinical counseling for OD patients should address potential changes in eating behavior.