10.2 Hunger and Eating

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Describe how hunger and eating are regulated
• Differentiate between levels of overweight and obesity and the associated health consequences
• Explain the health consequences resulting from anorexia and bulimia nervosa

Eating is essential for survival, and it is no surprise that a drive like hunger exists to ensure that we seek out sustenance. While this chapter will focus primarily on the physiological mechanisms that regulate hunger and eating, powerful social, cultural, and economic influences also play important roles. This section will explain the regulation of hunger, eating, and body weight, and we will discuss the adverse consequences of disordered eating.