Kumar
Fri, Mar-09-07, 06:16
"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
ppsychological levels.
Any contribution/comments are welcomed.
Best regards.
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
ppsychological levels.
Any contribution/comments are welcomed.
Best regards.