Explain why a person might override feelings of hunger and satiety.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Eating can be triggered by signals other than hunger, even when the body does not need food. Some people experience food cravings when they are bored or anxious. In fact, they may eat in response to any kind of stress, negative or positive. (“What do I do when I’m grieving? Eat. What do I do when I’m celebrating? Eat!”) Eating to relieve stress can easily lead to overeating (making especially poor food choices) and weight gain.
Many people respond to external cues such as the time of day (“It’s time to eat”) or the availability, sight, and taste of food (“I’d love a piece of chocolate even though I’m full”). Environmental influences such as large portion sizes, favorite foods, or an abundance or variety of foods stimulate eating and increase energy intake. Cognitive influences—such as perceptions, memories, intellect, and social interactions—can easily lead to weight gain. Those who are overweight or obese may be especially susceptible to external cues that trigger hunger and the desire to eat.
Eating can also be suppressed by signals other than satiety, even when a person is hungry. People with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, for example, use tremendous discipline to ignore the pangs of hunger. Some people simply cannot eat during times of stress, negative or positive. (“I’m too sad to eat.” “I’m too excited to eat!”) Why some people overeat in response to stress and others cannot eat at all remains a bit of a mystery, although researchers are beginning to understand the connections between hormones, brain activity, mood, and “comfort foods.”