Hunger and eating

EQ: Why do we eat?

Bell ringer: Do you like to eat? What do you like to eat? Why do you eat? What forces you to eat?

Internal controls 1. Bloodstream

Pathway for eating signals that flow to the brain

Fatty acids and blood sugar glucose are food nutrients in the blood

When brain receives signals that food nutrients in the blood are low, you feel hungry

2. Stomach

When your stomach becomes full it sends signals to the brain

Also signals release of insulin, a blood hormone that decreases appetite

High insulin causes body cells to take in too much glucose and excess is converted to fat

3. Brain

Hypothalamus: regulates eating

Neurons in hypothalamus fire when blood nutrients are too high or too low

Neurons act like sensors that provide information to the frontal lobes (which decides eating behavior)

External Controls

1. Environmental cues

Sight or smell of food

Time of day

Other people eating

Clattering of dishes

2. Incentive value of food

Incentive declines the more one eats of the same thing

Eat more when there is a variety of food(think about thanksgiving)

3. Culture

What people eat around you

What foods are available

4. Thoughts about food

Restrained Eater: Always worrying and trying to control what and how much you eat

Unrestrained eater: Unconcerned about controlling your eating