Australian scientists have shown that humans can detect a sixth taste: fat. And it appears that those people who are highly sensitive to the taste of fat tend to eat less of it, and have significantly lower body mass indexes.

Using a series of taste-testing experiments, researchers from Deakin University have found that humans can identify the taste of fat by its chemical composition, rather than by its texture.

Tongue test ... people who can taste fat tend to eat less of it.

The findings could lead to new ways of treating obesity.

The lead researcher, Russell Keast, said: ''Fat has a very nice mouth feel to it [but it] appears that fat is activating something in the oral cavity independent of texture.''