Some people seem satisfied to snack on a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, or grab a banana and yogurt cup for a quick on-the-go dinner. If you're the kind of person who'd prefer a seared steak, side salad, roasted potatoes and chocolate cheesecake wedge to simpler fare, you could have a large appetite. There's no research that supports an official definition of a voracious appetite, as appetite size is subjective. Your appetite may rise and fall depending on a number of factors, and not always resulting in weight fluctuations. Generally, appetite can be influenced by genetics and culture, according to the scientific journal "PLoS ONE." Understanding appetite can help you curb voracious impulses and gain better control of eating choices.
Appetite vs. Hunger
Before reaching for a second serving or immediately ordering the heaviest menu option, consider whether you're experiencing impulses related to appetite or hunger. Hunger is defined as "the need for food," according to Fit Watch. Chemical changes due to lowered blood sugar within the body signal hunger, letting you know that the body's energy reserves are running low and must be replenished. Think of appetite more as a conditioned response to food; that is, you see or smell a delicious casserole baking and experience the desire to eat. If you feel the voracious urge to eat every last bite of the casserole dish, this could be appetite rather than hunger surfacing.
Increased Appetite
Although there's no formal definition of a voracious appetite, it could be that you've noticed small or significant changes in appetite. Increased appetites can be intermittent or more persistent, according to Medline Plus. The terms "hyperphagia" and "polyphagia" refer to conditions when individuals focus excessively on eating, or eat too much without experiencing the sensation of fullness. Potential causes for increased appetite include anxiety, reactions from certain medications, hypoglycemia and premenstrual syndrome.
Food Types
The types of food you consume can have an effect on the intensity of appetites you experience, or satiety power, according to the Asian Food Information Centre. Protein-based foods provide the highest levels of satiety, delaying appetite surges the longest. Fats provide the lowest levels of satiety, and carbohydrates fall somewhere in the middle. Additionally, foods containing higher levels of water and fiber tend to satisfy appetite better than foods containing lower levels. It might go without saying that foods perceived as more palatable will increase appetite more than foods perceived as less palatable. Sweet, high-fat foods are typical examples of food types that induce greater appetite.
Action Steps
If you're concerned about your appetite, visit a health care professional. Do not discontinue taking prescription medications without the permission of your physician, even if you feel that these have significantly increased your appetite or caused weight gain. Your physician may decide to complete blood or thyroid tests to make an assessment. Aerobic exercise has been determined to help curb appetites by suppressing appetite-related hormones ghrelin and peptide YY, according to "Science Daily."
References
- "PLoS ONE"; Neural Correlates of Appetite and Hunger-Related Evaluative Judgments; Richard Piech et al; 2009
- Fit Watch: What's the Difference Between Appetite and Hunger?
- Medline Plus Medical Enyclopedia: Appetite -- Increased
- Asian Food Information Centre: Learning to Stay in Charge
- "Science Daily"; Exercise Suppresses Appetite by Affecting Appetite Hormones; 2008
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