Module 53: Hunger Motivation

glucose

the form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major source of energy for body tissues. When its level is low, we feel hunger

insulin

hormone secreted by pancreas; controls blood glucose

hypothalamus

performs various body maintenance functions, including control of hunger

Ghrelin

hormone secreted by empty stomach; sends “I’m hungry” signals to the brain

Set point

the point at which your “weight thermostat” may be set. When your body falls below this weight, increased hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may combine to restore lost weight

Basal metabolic rate

the body’s resting rate of energy output

Taste preference (biology and culture)

our preference for sweet and salty tastes are genetically and universal. Other taste preferences are conditioned. Exposure to one set of novel foods increases our willingness to try another. Other taste preferences are adaptive

Situational influences on eating (ecology of eating)

situations also control our eating

Arousing appetite

in one experiment, watching an intense action movie (rather than a non arousing interview) doubled snacking

friends and food

the presence of others tends to amplify our natural behavior tendencies

serving size

larger portions induce bigger bites, which may increase intake by decreasing oral exposure time

Selections stimulate

For our early ancestors, variety was healthy. When foods were abundant and varied, eating more provided a wide range of vitamins and minerals and produced protective fat for winter cold or famine

nudging nutrition

behavioral science insights

obesity

defined as a body mass index (BMI) measurement of 30 or higher (overweight individuals have a BMI of 25 or higher)

a growing problem

Since 1975, the worldwide obesity rate has nearly tripled; health risks, bullying

physiological factors

storing fat was adaptive, genetics

environmental factors

sleep loss, social influences, food and activity levels