EATING PLENTY BUT ALWAYS HUNGRY? A NUTRITIONIST EXPLAINS WHY

Let’s address the assumption in your question. Are you eating plenty? If you’ve recently embarked on a new exercise regimen, for example, you may well have underestimated the additional calorie requirements.

If you’re certain your macros are on point, there might be other factors at play. ‘People who don’t sleep enough can have raised levels of ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates appetite,’ says registered nutritionist Rob Hobson.‘Stress can raise cortisol, a hormone that promotes cravings. Medications such as antidepressants might increase your appetite, too, as can undiagnosed diabetes.’ If you’re over 40 and haven’t had an NHS health check, start there.

But people are just built differently: research in Nature Metabolism suggests some of us experience bigger dips in blood sugar after eating, impeding appetite control. ‘This is informed by a combination of your food choices, metabolism and activity,’ says Hobson.

Most recently, Cambridge scientists have found that the volume of a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which affects appetite, is different in people with obesity compared with those who have a lower BMI.

Speak to a doctor if you’re concerned, but for now, the prescription remains the same, ‘Eating proteins and fats slows the release of sugar into the bloodstream, which helps to keep you feeling full,’ says Hobson, ‘while consuming large amounts of quickly digested, low-fibre carbs can result in those sudden sugar dips.’ Eat more of the stuff you do need before cutting out the stuff you don’t.

2023-11-08T17:30:59Z dg43tfdfdgfd