"...a tiny amount of inflammation driven by obesity actually reduced the number of taste buds on their tongues."

Obesity is killing off people’s taste buds, and now scientists can explain why

"Researchers at Cornell University report the discovery that, in mice, a tiny amount of inflammation driven by obesity actually reduced the number of taste buds on their tongues. Their work was published this week (March 20) in the journal PLOS Biology, and it may wind up aiding the development of new therapies to alleviate what’s called “'taste dysfunction' among people who suffer from obesity."