Overview
- The University of Malaya published a peer‑reviewed report on Thursday reporting that 23 moderately trained men who fasted at least 10 hours completed more leg‑extension repetitions after brief exposure to chocolate odours.
- Participants who sniffed a 90% dark chocolate scent added about 18 repetitions versus a water control, while a 60% milk chocolate scent added about nine repetitions and was rated more pleasant.
- Those exposed to dark chocolate also reported lower hunger, reduced desire to eat, and greater fullness before exercise, yet volunteers did not report higher perceived exertion despite doing more work.
- The authors cautioned the results are inferential because the trial was small and homogeneous, the water control was odorless, odor intensity may have varied, and no blood or neural measures were taken.
- Olfaction is tightly linked to brain appetite and emotion networks, so the study suggests a psychological cue—not proven physiology—could alter training output, and researchers say replication and wider mechanistic studies are needed before any gym‑based recommendations.