Hunger and Eating Disorders Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about hunger, hypothalamic centers, set-point theory, the psychology of hunger, taste preferences, and eating disorders.

Stomach Contractions

Physical sensation caused by stomach contractions that sends signals to the brain, making us aware of our hunger.

Insulin

A hormone that decreases glucose (sugar) in the blood, which can lead to feelings of hunger.

Hypothalamus

A part of the brain involved in hunger and eating behavior.

Lateral Hypothalamus

Part of the hypothalamus that brings on hunger; stimulates eating.

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

Part of the hypothalamus that suppresses hunger; stops the organism from eating.

Set-Point Theory

The theory that the body has a biologically determined weight that it tries to maintain.

Basal Metabolic Rate

The body's resting rate of energy expenditure.

External Incentives

Eating triggered by the presence of food or external cues, such as time of day, or social expectations.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and dramatic weight loss, typically with the individual still feeling overweight.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by episodes of overeating (binging), usually of high-calorie foods, followed by purging (e.g., vomiting, laxative use, excessive exercise).

Binge Eating Disorder

Recurrent episodes of binge eating without purging.