Hunger

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Hunger

Hunger (/ˈhʌŋɡər/) is a physiological need state that motivates behavior to acquire food. It is a complex phenomenon influenced by a variety of factors, including nutritional status, hormone levels, and social and environmental cues.

Etymology

The term "hunger" comes from the Old English hungor, which is of Germanic origin. It is related to the Dutch honger and the German Hunger.

Physiology of Hunger

Hunger is regulated by a complex system of hormones and neurotransmitters, including ghrelin, leptin, and insulin. These substances interact with the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that plays a key role in controlling appetite and energy balance.

When the body's energy stores are low, the level of ghrelin increases, stimulating the sensation of hunger. Conversely, when the body has sufficient energy, the level of leptin increases, suppressing the sensation of hunger.

Related Terms

  • Appetite: A desire to eat, often due to hunger but can be influenced by other factors such as sight and smell of food.
  • Satiation: The feeling of fullness and satisfaction after eating, which suppresses the desire to eat more.
  • Starvation: A severe deficiency in caloric energy, nutrient, and vitamin intake causing extreme hunger and malnutrition.
  • Malnutrition: A condition that results from eating a diet in which one or more nutrients are either not enough or are too much.

See Also

External links

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