Have you ever wondered why you can’t stop eating, even when you’re full? Or why do you eat more than your body needs? Have you ever felt like starving even after eating a big meal? Or found yourself craving food, even if it wasn’t remotely close to mealtime? If so, what you experienced is called hedonic hunger. It turns out that what we think of as “hunger” is two different things. In modern times, among well-nourished populations, an increasing proportion of human food consumption appears to be driven by pleasure, not the need for calories —which isn’t necessarily bad! In this article, we’ll look at homeostatic and hedonic hunger to better understand the motivations behind food consumption.
History of Human Food Consumption
For most of human history and prehistory, the primary objective of seeking food was survival through maintaining energy homeostasis and avoiding starvation. Humans had to eat enough food that provided enough calories to meet their daily needs. It was essential for early humans to have enough energy to perform physical tasks such as gathering food and other resources or defending themselves from predators. In modern times, energy homeostasis is no longer an issue for most people living in developed countries who no longer need to worry about finding food for existence. The availability of an abundance of tasty foods has changed our relationship with eating from one primarily focused on survival to one also driven by pleasure.
Hemeostatic vs. Hedonic Hunger
Homeostatic hunger is what most people think of when they hear the word “hunger.” It refers to the body’s need for energy to maintain balance (homeostasis). When your body needs energy, it sends signals to your brain telling you to eat. Physiological needs drive this type of hunger. Hedonic hunger, however, is driven by pleasure and anticipation of reward rather than physiological needs. Hedonic hunger is an intense, psychological desire for food triggered by external cues such as the sight or smell of food, social events, time, or advertising campaigns. Unlike homeostatic hunger, which is generally limited to only what our bodies need in terms of calories, hedonic hunger is not constrained by physical limitations and can often result in over-consumption.
The interplay between these two types of hunger has become increasingly complex in recent years due to the availability of calorie-dense foods with high levels of added sugar and fat. These foods are designed for maximum pleasure, making them difficult for many people to resist even if their body does not need them.
How do We Know We are Hungry?
Hunger is challenging to specify. We need help not only quantifying our hunger, but many need help identifying whether we are hungry at all. There may be no solid characteristic pattern of hunger symptoms when it comes to typical hunger sensations. When participants were asked about hunger sensations, there were three key identifiers. First and foremost, most people experience a growling stomach as an indicator that it’s time for food. Secondly, many people also report feeling an empty sensation in their stomach when they are hungry. Lastly, some people describe feeling mild to moderate stomach pain when hungry. In addition to these typical hunger sensations, many people experience extreme hunger sensations: headaches, lightheadedness, or dizziness, being fixated on food and feeling irritable or cranky.
Understanding the distinction between homeostatic and hedonic hunger is essential for physical and mental health since it can help us make better food choices. There are distinct neural pathways associated with homeostatic and hedonic motivation for eating with animal models; however, further research should be conducted to understand how these systems interact within humans. It is sometimes hard to recognize the type of hunger in real life. However, hedonic hunger involves two constructs: liking and wanting.
Liking vs. Wanting Food
The primary difference between liking and wanting food lies in the motivation behind eating. Liking is a pleasure derived from oro-sensory stimulation of food – think flavors, textures, smells, etc. Conversely, wanting is defined as incentive salience or the motivation to engage in eating. When you want something, you are more likely to seek it out despite any associated costs or calories involved. By understanding these two different types of motivation when it comes to eating, we can begin to make better decisions about our diets and health goals. For example, if you “like” a specific type of food but do not necessarily need it (i.e., don’t have an urgent “want”), then it may be best to practice moderation rather than overindulge in something your body doesn’t need. On the other hand, if you want a particular type of snack despite having already eaten earlier in the day (or week!), then perhaps it’s time to take a step back and ask yourself why – are you bored? Stressed? Anxious? Identifying those underlying motivations for wanting specific foods can help us develop healthier habits and make more informed decisions about what we eat.
Conclusion
Enhanced hedonic response to foods can augment hunger even when satiated, meaning that even if we don’t feel hungry, we may still be tempted by tasty treats. Identifying between homeostatic and hedonic hunger can be challenging but ultimately rewarding. You will have more control over your eating habits if you understand where those cravings come from! By paying attention to cues from your body, keeping track of meals/snacks throughout the day, and taking breaks whenever necessary, you’ll be able to tell which type of hunger is driving your appetite–and make healthier choices accordingly! All this shows just how complex our relationship with food can be.
References
- Lowe, M.R. and Butryn, M.L., 2007. Hedonic hunger: a new dimension of appetite?. Physiology & behavior, 91(4), pp.432-439.
- Blundell, J.E. and Finlayson, G., 2004. Is susceptibility to weight gain characterized by homeostatic or hedonic risk factors for overconsumption?. Physiology & behavior, 82(1), pp.21-25.
