The study was performed by researchers from Deakin University (Australia), the University of Adelaide (Australia), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO, Australia), and Massey University (New Zealand).

The summary of the study has been published in a recent 2010 issue of the British Journal of Nutrition.

The researchers had participants taste three different types of a modified milk drink. One of the samples contained fat.

They found that people varied in their ability to taste fat in the milk sample.

Those subjects better able to taste the fat in the milk sample were found to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those less able to taste the fat.

BMI is a measure of one's body fat (mass in kilograms divided by height in meters squared).

Page two provides comments from Dr. Russell Keast, one of the Australian researchers in the study.

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Dr. Russell Keast, a lecturer in the Department of Sensory Science, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, and one of the researchers of the study, stated, ''When we broke it down even further and looked at their diets, we found that they were actually consuming less fat.' [TheAge.com.au (3.8.2010): 'Taste buds may hold new key to obesity']

Keast added, ''We are now interested in understanding why some people are sensitive and others are not, which we believe will lead to ways of helping people lower their fat intakes and aid development of new low-fat foods and diets.''

Dr. Keast stated in The Age article that further research in this area could help to reduce obesity in the world.

He concluded, ''Obesity is a major problem and the leading cause of preventable death worldwide'¦. So when we understand one of the factors involved in developing obesity - which we think this certainly is - it could help us look at a set of strategies to reduce obesity.'' [The Age]

Learn more about healthy types of foods and unhealthy types of fat (such as saturated and trans fats) in the FamilyDoctor.org article "Nutrition: How to Make Healthier Food Choices."

In part, the article states, "Eating too many high-fat foods not only adds excess calories (which can lead to obesity and weight gain), but can increase your risk factor for several diseases. Heart disease, diabetes, certain types of cancer and osteoarthritis have all been linked to diets too high in fat. If you consume too much saturated and trans fats, you are more likely to develop high cholesterol and coronary artery disease."