Hunger and appetite are not the same.
Hunger is a physiological drive to eat based on the body’s need for food. It is a primary reflex controlled in the GI and brain and is driven by changing levels of nutrients and hormones. Appetite is a desire to eat that is the brain’s response to hunger and other stimulants like cravings and emotions. The hormones that control appetite can vary from person to person with chronic obesity being one of the drivers. Many individuals who struggle with excess weight and obesity have difficulty managing appetite and identifying the body’s natural hunger cues. Over time, emotional and environmental conditions can mask real hunger and appetite takes over. This is one of the reasons for food cravings and emotional overeating.
When taking weight loss drugs, your appetite will likely be less, but hunger will remain. Slowed gastric or stomach emptying will reduce your appetite by limiting hormonal signals to the brain. When you eat, you will fill up faster and your appetite will be less. So, in the near term, you will lose weight by eating less. But even better… you have the opportunity to relearn how to identify when you’re truly hungry. Because these weight loss drugs suppress appetite, they suppress that food noise or those feelings that drive you to overeat. You will learn to know when you’re really hungry and give you the freedom to avoid overeating throughout the day.
I encourage you to keep a journal and note when you’re hungry. Plan ahead and have small meals prepared so that you don’t revert back to processed foods lacking in protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Honoring your hunger and noting how it differs between appetite will be invaluable as you approach your goals weight, and possibly transition off of the medication.
Next week we’ll talk about Protein, Nutrition and Exercise.
For more information about healthy nutrition and lifestyle changes, contact Karen Kruza, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at Kruza Nutrition.
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