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> I have only ever eaten food when I’m actually hungry, ever since I was born, and have always been thin. Some people are hungry a lot. For a variety of reason

> I have only ever eaten food when I’m actually hungry, ever since I was born, and have always been thin. Some people are hungry a lot. For a variety of reasons. For example, the choice of previous foods they've eaten can result in increased hunger. As can metabolism. And activity level. I suspect microbiome as well, although I don't recall specifically reading anything about that. Depending on the person, stress may increase hunger or decrease it. Depression can have the same impact of either increasing or decreasing hunger. Some of the people experiencing increased hunger may gain weight, some won't. Different people also get different levels of pleasure from eating. Some very little, some very much. The effects on serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins differs from person to person. I know I saw one study once where they found that the pleasure centers of the brain lit up much more than average in overweight people when they merely thought about their favorite foods, and much less than average in people who had been thin their entire lives. I think you're correct in that many people eat out of habit. They also eat from boredom. Some people begin to feel hungry merely at the mention of food. So I don't think it's as simple as telling people to only eat when they are hungry. Although that's a good rule of thumb, you may need to also address some of the other factors (like food choice, depression, etc.) if you want a given individual to remain at a healthy weight.

bigmattystyles 4y ago
I love jam. It’s my kryptonite. When I’m depressed, in a medical grade depressive episode, I have to force down jam. Forget healthy food that takes time to prepare. Hunger is indeed mostly in the brain.
Fire-Dragon-DoL 4y ago
Thank you. I have been permanently hungry since the day I was born (according to my mom), and it takes a lot of effort to avoid being overweight. The best way for me to mitigate it is to eat very large amount of vegetables, the problem is that I can really have those amounts at home, not really at a restaurant.
lytefm 4y ago
I very much doubt that most people in the western world who complain about being „hungy“ have ever experienced actually being hungry. If you don't eat for about day (or longer), the short-term glucose storage will be depleted, ketosis starts and you'll actually feel hungry - though it usually fades once the body adapts to breaking down fat and proteins. Having an empty, possibly even grumbling stomach or feeling appetite/ craving for sugar isn't hunger. I can recommend trying out to fast for a couple of days in order to experience the difference. I've kinda intuitively shifted to intermittent fasting afterwards and usually don't have any urge to eat food until after noon.
vladvasiliu 4y ago
What I've learned from a sample size of one, myself, is that I think "I'm hungry" in two cases. First, is when I'm actually hungry. For example, when I don't eat for a day while doing stuff. Then, the more common one, is when I just "feel like eating", two hours after a nice meal. Intermittent fasting and portion control helped me differentiate the two, as well as, as you point out, see the effects the different kinds of food have on my feeling hungry two hours later. What I find is that it's usually the second kind of "hunger" which has the worst effect on my concentration. It's when I know I have this or that snack lying around, and I keep thinking about having some, and the only way to calm that thought is to go and eat. The first kind has a much different effect, I just feel like I have no strength, and it makes me think of eating "actual" food. > So I don't think it's as simple as telling people to only eat when they are hungry. I think you're right, but I also think that it's possible to teach people to listen to their bodies and learn the effects different foods have on the feeling of hunger. The issue is that some foods, especially in restaurants, are "foods that make you hungry" disguised as "healthy meals". Think salads or just a piece of meat with vegetables, but drenched in some sugary-fatty sauce.

bigmattystyles 4y ago

I love jam. It’s my kryptonite. When I’m depressed, in a medical grade depressive episode, I have to force down jam. Forget healthy food that takes time to prepare. Hunger is indeed mostly in the brain.

Fire-Dragon-DoL 4y ago

Thank you. I have been permanently hungry since the day I was born (according to my mom), and it takes a lot of effort to avoid being overweight. The best way for me to mitigate it is to eat very large amount of vegetables, the problem is that I can really have those amounts at home, not really at a restaurant.

lytefm 4y ago

I very much doubt that most people in the western world who complain about being „hungy“ have ever experienced actually being hungry. If you don't eat for about day (or longer), the short-term glucose storage will be depleted, ketosis starts and you'll actually feel hungry - though it usually fades once the body adapts to breaking down fat and proteins. Having an empty, possibly even grumbling stomach or feeling appetite/ craving for sugar isn't hunger. I can recommend trying out to fast for a couple of days in order to experience the difference. I've kinda intuitively shifted to intermittent fasting afterwards and usually don't have any urge to eat food until after noon.

vladvasiliu 4y ago

What I've learned from a sample size of one, myself, is that I think "I'm hungry" in two cases. First, is when I'm actually hungry. For example, when I don't eat for a day while doing stuff. Then, the more common one, is when I just "feel like eating", two hours after a nice meal. Intermittent fasting and portion control helped me differentiate the two, as well as, as you point out, see the effects the different kinds of food have on my feeling hungry two hours later. What I find is that it's usually the second kind of "hunger" which has the worst effect on my concentration. It's when I know I have this or that snack lying around, and I keep thinking about having some, and the only way to calm that thought is to go and eat. The first kind has a much different effect, I just feel like I have no strength, and it makes me think of eating "actual" food. > So I don't think it's as simple as telling people to only eat when they are hungry. I think you're right, but I also think that it's possible to teach people to listen to their bodies and learn the effects different foods have on the feeling of hunger. The issue is that some foods, especially in restaurants, are "foods that make you hungry" disguised as "healthy meals". Think salads or just a piece of meat with vegetables, but drenched in some sugary-fatty sauce.