Portions and the feeling of satiety: how do stress and fatigue distort hunger signals?

The modern rhythm of life, deadlines, and complex work tasks often lead to chronic stress and mental fatigue. At such moments, the body's levels of the hormone cortisol rise, directly affecting eating behavior. Cortisol forces us to seek quick energy, primarily simple carbohydrates and fats, while simultaneously dulling the ability to adequately assess the body's real needs. Because of this, a person can eat a huge portion and still feel internal dissatisfaction and emptiness.

In addition, a brain tired from processing a large amount of information perceives the process of chewing and consuming delicious food as the simplest and most accessible way to get dopamine—the hormone of pleasure. As a result, a habit of stress-eating is formed, in which a person eats on autopilot, not noticing the taste of food and not feeling full even when the stomach is already physically full. This leads to a feeling of heaviness in the body and reduced productivity after a break.

To learn to distinguish true physiological hunger from emotional tension, you should try the following actions:

Managing stress and the ability to recognize the true causes of appetite help maintain lightness in the body and protect against overeating during intense workdays.