To Eat or Not to Eat

Introduction: Hello my name is xxxxxxx xxxxxx and I am an Eating Disorder Counselor. Today I will be discussing the physiological reasons for eating or not eating and then I will open the floor for discussion. There are two theories on why we get hungry; these theories are called the Set or Settling Point theory, and the other is the Positive – Incentive theory. The Set or Settling theory differs a bit in the point of optimal weight (or fat/energy level) however the basic idea is the same.

In this theory everyone has a set point (or an equilibrium) where the body is using the stored energy, and if the body is above this point then it does not become hungry if it is below the set point the body is lacking energy to use and will become hungry in order to replenish the fuel supply. This theory is invalid for the simple fact if the body worked that way we would all be at our optimum weight. The second theory is the Positive-Incentive whereas we desire to eat instead of eating because we need to refuel.

We are programmed to eat for many reasons but we have a desire to eat to fulfill the basic needs of our bodies much like having sexual desire increases the chances that we will procreate. How do we determine what to eat? Taste or what we have a preference to eating play a big factor in what we eat. If we eat what we prefer, salty, sweet, fatty, we are more likely to ingest food that is high-energy and contain vitamins and minerals to supply our bodies with nutrition. Another is learned tastes or preferences and aversions; most people eat what their families served or what the culture dictates.

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Also, many times we will eat food that is connected to good health versus toxic or something that is not good for us. How do we know how much to eat? How much you eat depends greatly on the nutritive volume of the content. It may also depend on the last experience we had eating that certain food; if it was pleasurable we may tend to eat more of it. Another factor many depend on pre meal hunger, contrary to belief that appetizer before out meal may cause us to eat more instead of less due to the phase the small amount of food has caused our system to go into.

Studies have shown that people eating alone eat considerably less that people that eat with others; however certain factor such as dieting or afraid to eat in front of other may have some effect on this situation. Having too many choices or different foods can increase the intake of food because as you eat one food you naturally lose some positive-incentive to eat but as you take on a whole new taste the effect comes back for the new food and will continue with each new subject. There are some myths about hunger and satiety I’d like to address.

First the lack of energy (fuel) is not what causes hunger. Second if you manage to lose weight without changing your lifestyle when you go back to eating as you always did you will gain it right back. Exercising alone is not an effective way to lose weight; if you don’t change the intake of calories there is no amount of exercise that can keep up. Exercising has healthy benefits but each of us has to have balance of the correct amount of calories and exercise to be healthy. As I opened the floor for discussion the first question was from: 1. Lindsey asked: My parents were both obese, is that why I am?

It is very possible that there is a genetic link to your parents in the area of weight; however we should explore the fact that you may have simply inherited some poor eating habits. 2. Robert asked: My girlfriend and I eat together all of the time, so we eat the same food and amounts of food, but she never gains weight like I do. Why is that? There could be several reasons for this difference; one reason could be that your resting metabolic rate is different from hers. Your body’s ability to fat intake could be different. Of course the main factor is if you are getting enough exercise to dispel the intake of some of the calories.

It could be a matter of your girlfriend getting more exercise than you. 3. Nancy asked: My mom says that I became anorexic because I’ve been reading too many Cosmos magazines and I want to look like those girls. Maybe I did, but I really don’t crave food. What do you think it is? Eating disorders often begin with poor body image or a desire to look like some other person that you see as a role model. If that desire to become slim becomes excessive and you have deprived yourself of food, then you see food as the cause of you not becoming like the girls in the magazine, therefore the positive-incentive for food is no longer there.

The positive-incentive or the anticipation of a good experience with food is what causes hunger and that appears to be what is lacking. 4. Tyra asked: I don’t eat because every time I do I just get sick. Do you know why that is? When the body is deprived of food for a long period of time then is reintroduced to calorie intake it often has an adverse effect which makes you physically ill. It is very often the meal that is the problem. When you feel you are being forced to eat a large ortion of food then that meal becomes something that is undesirable instead of desirable. Furthermore, now you have had a negative experience instead of a positive (positive incentive) which does not promote hunger but causes you to be ill. Try eating small amounts of food several times a day, preferably something you might enjoy or have previously enjoyed. Eating small amounts should not give a true feeling of fullness and if the experience eventually becomes a positive experience then eventually you will not become ill and you may actually enjoy food again.

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