We don’t eat just to satisfy physical needs. Food gives us pleasure as well. Find out what the difference between emotional and physical hunger is, and how to decipher them both for yourself.

Emotional Hunger:

Emotional hunger (or eating) is the tendency to yearn for food in response to positive or negative emotions.

Typically, we think of emotional hunger or emotional eating as happening in response to a negative or unpleasant emotion. But this type of eating can also happen in response to positive or pleasant emotions as well.

Physical Hunger:

Physical hunger is considered a motivational state and show up in our body in a range of physical sensations. Eating is the only way to resolve this type of hunger.

How to tell the difference:

In reality, discerning emotional vs physical hunger is not as clear. Here are some clear differences between emotional and physical hunger:

Emotional:

• Urge comes on suddenly
• Craving of specific foods/tastes
• Isn’t often satisfied when physical gull

Physical:

• Physical sensations build gradually and become more intense with time
• Sensations will be felt a few hours after your last ate
• Eating enough resolve the physical sensations for a few hours

Wanting to learn more?

Al xx