People who can vividly imagine smells, such as freshly baked cookies or even wet paint, tend to weigh more than people whose olfactory imaginations are less sharp, new research finds.
新的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，氣味想象力發(fā)達的人（不管是想象新鮮出爐的餅干還是未干的油漆散發(fā)出來的味道），他們的體重比那些嗅覺想象力不怎么發(fā)達的人重。

The ability to imagine odors varies greatly among people, ranging from people who can easily imagine the delicate, sweet aroma of a rose bouquet to those who struggle to recall the scent of a tuna casserole.
不同的人氣味想象能力很不一樣，有的人輕易地就能想象出玫瑰花的香甜可人，而有的人卻很難回想起金槍魚砂鍋的味道。

Researchers wondered whether people who adeptly imagine smells, especially food odors, also tend to struggle with obesity. Previous research has shown that food cravings are associated with obesity, and that the intensity of people's food cravings is related to the vividness of their mental images of food, said the new study's lead researcher, Barkha Patel, a postdoctoral fellow in psychiatry at Yale University.
研究者好奇的是，氣味想象擅長的人（尤其是想象食物的氣味），這一類人會不會更容易有肥胖的困擾。早前就有研究顯示，喜歡吃東西的人通常會跟肥胖扯上關(guān)系，而對食物渴望的程度與食物在其腦海中成像的鮮活度也是相關(guān)的，耶魯大學精神病學博士后巴卡·帕特爾如是說。

"People who were obese (had higher BMIs) were better able to imagine odors — both food and nonfood odors," Patel told Live Science in an email.
帕特爾在給Live Science的郵件中寫道，“肥胖的人(即身體質(zhì)量指數(shù)高的人)想象氣味的能力要更高，食物、非實物皆是如此?！?/div>

"Being better able to imagine odors could intensify the craving experience, which in turn would encourage food consumption," Patel said. "However, if the ability to imagine odors was disrupted by something like a walk, for example, perhaps cravings would diminish, and we wouldn't feel the need to eat."
“氣味想象能力較強的人對食物的渴望程度可能會更強，這樣一來會刺激進食，”帕特爾說道，“但是，如果氣味想象的能力受到散步等的干擾，或許對食物渴望的程度就會下降，而我們就不會有要吃東西的欲望。”

The finding may help researchers develop weight-loss programs better tailored for individuals, Patel said.
帕特爾稱，這一發(fā)現(xiàn)或許能幫助研究者為不同的人量身定制出不同的減肥方案。