Tag: Physiology of hunger

According to a 2019 study on adolescents, nearly half of participants consumed additional calories after a full meal, a behavior known as 'eating in the absence of hunger'. This statistic highlights that our food choices are often influenced by more than just physical need. The question 'Why do we eat even if we're not hungry?' delves into a complex interplay of mind, body, and environment.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hunger is the single gravest threat to global public health, yet many people confuse the temporary, biological sensation of hunger with the far more serious medical condition of starvation. This distinction is crucial for understanding nutrition, human biology, and global issues like food insecurity and malnutrition.

Did you know that up to 37% of the time, people mistake thirst for hunger, often confusing the body's signals? Understanding these signals is a critical first step in mindful eating, especially when you need to know **how to tell the difference between appetite and hunger**.