Duke University Weight Loss Center

  • The excerpt below is from the Duke University Obesity Clinic hand out, given to people who register with them (as in-patients) in their clinic. It's very insightful, and hits home for many of us.


    "Those of us who overeat are responding to distorted signals. When we consume food that harms rather than helps our bodies, we are eating in response to some irrational demand in our head rather than because of legitimate physical hunger. The mental obsession with food is an illusion, but one to which we cling with great tenacity. When we feel "hungry," we need to stop and evaulate the signal.

    Is it coming from our stomach or from our head? Often, it is after a meal that we most strongly crave something more to eat. This is either because we ate so fast that our stomach has not had time to register satisfaction or because eating has awakened a giant, insatiable appetite for more. It is frequently our mind that wants more, even after our body has had quite enough.
    Emotions such as fear, anger, and anxiety can trigger "head hunger." We need perception and insight to know whether the hunger comes from our body or our mind.

    "May we all learn to respond to the legitimate needs of our bodies."
  • thank you for sharing that it kinda makes sense dont it?

    Ronney
  • Nicely said!

    Thanks for sharing a great reminder to recognize the difference between legitimate and head hunger — and may we all have "the wisdom to know the difference!"