Section 8.2: Hunger Motivation - Terms

Hunger

A biological drive that signals the need to eat to maintain energy and nutrient balance.

Glucose

A simple sugar that serves as the main source of energy for the body's cells, influencing feelings of hunger when levels drop.

Hypothalamus

A brain region that regulates hunger, thirst, and other vital bodily functions by monitoring internal states.

Set point

The body's natural weight baseline that it tries to maintain through hunger and metabolic regulation.

Basal metabolic rate

The rate at which the body uses energy to maintain basic physiological functions at rest.

Obesity

A condition characterized by excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems.

Weight control

The management of body weight through balancing food intake, physical activity, and metabolic factors.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical processes in the body that convert food into energy and regulate bodily functions.