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