A new study has found that smelling food can make you gain weight

In what is perhaps the worst food related news we’ve ever heard, a study conducted by researchers at University of California, Berkeley has found that simply smelling food can make you gain weight.

We know, we’re outraged too.

The research, published in Cell Metabolism, studied three groups of mice that were all fed a “high-fat Burger King” diet. The first group included normal-sized mice, the second had no sense of smell and the third had their sense of smell temporarily disabled.

The researchers found the first group of normal-sized mice nearly doubled in size on the diet while the group of mice with no sense of smell only increased in size by 10 per cent.

What is perhaps most interesting however, were the results of the third group of mice, who actually lost weight even though they were consuming exactly the same diet as the first two groups.

According to the study, “the data presented here shows that even relatively short-term loss of smell improves metabolic health and weight loss, despite the negative consequences of being on a [diet high in fat].”

Essentially, the study proved a sense of smell could significantly influence the brain’s decision to either burn fat or store it – at least in the bodies of mice.

It is important to note however, the study hasn’t been conducted on humans, meaning the results aren’t definitive and more research is required. So, there’s no need to take drastic measures to dodge your co-worker who has brought in birthday cupcakes or take the long way home to avoid walking past the fish and chip shop this evening! Yet…!

In better news, science has proven there’s an effective way to burn calories without exercising. Now that’s music to our ears!

What do you think about this recent study? Do you find your sense of smell impacts your appetite? Let us know in the comments section below.

Image credit: Getty