January 24, 2019
Nutrition Education: PHYSICAL HUNGER VS. EMOTIONAL HUNGER
Emotional eating is eating to manage or suppress an emotion, rather than eating because of physical hunger.
However, it’s not always easy to tell the difference. This post helps to distinguish between the two, and it can
be referred back to when hunger strikes.
PHYSICAL HUNGER
????Comes on gradually. Physical hunger doesn't come out of nowhere, and you can usually expect to be hungry at a certain time.
????Increases slowly. It starts with a small feeling of hunger and grows over time, only becoming intense after a long time has passed between meals.
????Centers around a physical sensation in the stomach, like rumbling or hunger pangs.
????Involves a desire for any food. During physical hunger, healthy foods like vegetables are just as appealing as socalled comfort foods.
????Usually involves awareness of eating.
????Is satisfied when full.
????Doesn’t lead to negative feelings, because eating is a natural response to the need for nourishment.
EMOTIONAL HUNGER
????Begins quickly and without warning. It can happen at any time, even after eating, and it often can’t be predicted.
????Quickly becomes intense and persistent, and requires immediate satisfaction.
????Centers around a craving or a desire for specific tastes, textures or smells.
????Involves a desire for specific foods, usually those high in fat or sugar.‘The broccoli test’, where people ask themselves if they’d be happy to eat broccoli in response to the craving, can help to distinguish between desires.
????Leads to mindless eating.
????Continues when full, because it’s not a response to actual hunger.
????Is followed by guilt, shame, or regret, because eating behavior indicates a loss of control.
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