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Science Forum Index » Medicine - Nutrition Forum » Hunger and Eating?
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| Kumar |
 Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:12 am |
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"Hunger and Eating Based on Biology
Many theories of hunger are historically discussed from the biological
component. Cannon and Washburn (as cited in Coon, 1995) came up with
the stomach contraction theory which states that we know we are hungry
when our stomach contracts. In the notorious balloon study, Washburn
trained himself to swallow a balloon which was attached to a tube,
then the balloon was inflated inside of his stomach. When the balloon
was inflated, he did not feel hungry. Later this theory was opposed by
the fact that people whose stomach was removed still felt hungry.
Glucose theory states that we feel hungry when our blood glucose level
is low. Bash (as cited in Franken, 1994) conducted an experiment
transfusing blood from a satiated dog to a starved dog. The
transfusion resulted in termination of stomach contraction in the
starved dog, and supported the glucose theory. But as LeMagnen (as
cited in Kalat, 1995) suggests that blood glucose level does not
change much under normal conditions. Insulin theory states that we
feel hungry when our insulin level increases suddenly in our bodies
(Heller, & Heller, 1991). However, this theory seems to indicate that
we have to eat to increase our insulin level in order to feel hungry.
Fatty acid theory states that our bodies have receptors that detect an
increase in the level of fatty acid. Activation of the receptor for
fatty acid triggers hunger (Dole, 1956, Klein et al., 1960 cited in
Franken, 1994). Heat-Production theory suggested by Brobeck (as cited
in Franken, 1994) states that we feel hungry when our body temperature
drops, and when it rises, the hunger decreases. This might be explain
that we tend to eat more during winter.
Mind and Body Connection of Hunger
Hunger is a primary motivation. Despite strong beliefs that hunger is
caused biologically, this motivation is controlled not just by
physiology, but also psychology as well. There are two kinds of
hungers; one is caused physiologically, and the other is caused
psychologically. What makes human beings different from animals is we
eat not only to feed our bodies to satiate physiological hunger, but
also to feed our minds to satiate psychological hunger as well.
Although these two kinds of hunger interchangeably cause hunger by
affecting one another, putting some food in our mouth is not
necessarily the right way to feed our psychological hunger. Problems
like eating disorders and obesity could occur because we mistakenly
keep tying to satiate our psychological hunger by eating food. Until
we realize that we need to feed our mind with something, rather than
eating, we can not feel satiated. Until we recognize it is our mind,
not our body which needs food, we cannot be satisfied with what we put
in our mouth. Thus, hunger is not only about how the body changes
physiologically, it is about how our body and mind together are well
fed, not just by the food that one can put in their mouth, but also by
the whole environment around us...
http://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/students/hunger.htm "
Hello,
Hunger and eating behaviour is very important in diabetics. We discuss
lot on this subject. Above link tells many theories about hunger and
eating. It also indicates Dr.Chung's & other posters thoughts/theories
in this respect as both may be vailid- on physiological and
psychological levels.
Any contribution/comments are welcomed.
Best regards. |
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