Diet & Weight Management

Health

Could It Be Stress?

When you're anxious or tense, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. This amps up your feeling of hunger.

Many people under stress also crave foods high in sugar, fat, or both. It may be your body's attempt to "shut off" the part of your brain that causes you to worry.

Other symptoms may include:

Angry outbursts
Fatigue
Headache
Sleep problems
Stomach upset

Could It Be Your Diet?

Not all foods fill you up the same way. The ones that curb hunger best are high in protein -- like lean meats, fish, or dairy products -- or high in fiber. Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans.

Pastries, white bread, many packaged meals, and fast foods lack these nutrients but are high in fat and unhealthy carbs. If you eat a lot of these, you could find yourself hungry again soon after a meal -- and you may eat more than you should.

Other signs that your food choices don't fill you up include:

Constipation
Small, hard stools
Stomach pain

Could It Be Your Medication?

Some drugs can make you want to eat more than usual. Antihistamines are known for this as are SSRIs (anti-depressants), steroids, some diabetes medicines, and antipsychotic drugs.

If you've gained weight since you started the medication, it could be that the medicine is making you feel hungry. Talk to you doctor to find out what other drugs might work for you.

Could You Be Pregnant?

Many moms-to-be notice a huge leap in appetite. This is your body's way of making sure the baby gets enough nutrients to grow.

Most women gain between 4 and 6 pounds during the first trimester and then 1 pound a week during the second and third.

Other signs that you might be pregnant are:

A missed period
A frequent urge to pee
Nausea
Sore breasts or breasts that get bigger

Could It Be Your Thyroid?

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. It produces hormones that control the rate at which every organ in your body functions. If your thyroid is working too quickly, you could have hyperthyroidism.

Besides an enlarged thyroid gland, other signs of hyperthyroidism are:

Fast pulse
Feeling nervous
More sweat than normal
Muscle weakness
Thirst even after drinking

Could It Be Diet Soda?

Many people drink sugar-free soda to count calories or lose weight. But the fake sugar in these drinks tells your brain to expect calories it can use for fuel. When your body doesn't get any, your "hunger switch" is turned on and your body tells you to get calories from food instead.

If diet soda is making you hungry, other symptoms can include: