Do you live by the assumption that people with more body weight carry an odor? Who would assume such a thing? You. Me. Maybe? Most certainly, the 175 college students who participated in a recent study.
My interest in olfactory information lead someone to send me a link to this very interesting article and study: Body Weight Bias Extends to Sense of Smell, Study Finds
Olfaction is a formidable sense. It comforts us, protects us, and serves us well with everything else in between. It puts markers in our brain and the memory is seared in such a way, that at times a smell is present even when there isn't one. People can be so turned off by obese individuals that they actually imagine a bad smell, according to a new study. The beginning of the article states exactly what was used as scent samples. Wait for it.... Yup.
Odor is present on people of all sizes. But why are the assumptions so strong towards obese people? It is all negative bias, or an individual's experience that the brain holds on to?
Be whole,
