FitSugar

Woman With Prader-Willi Syndrome Has Insatiable Hunger

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:05:25 -0700

I've heard lots of people say "I'm always hungry," but Kate Kane really, scientifically is. She suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome, a chromosomal flaw that affects the hypothalamus. Kane appeared on Good Morning America today to discuss her struggle with this unusual disorder. Check out a segment below.

An estimated 20,000 people suffer from the condition, which causes muscle weakness, decreased mental capacity, and an inability to feel satiated. Kane has lost jobs for stealing food and says that if left unchecked, she would eat until she got sick or died. She's not exaggerating: children with Prader-Willi typically will do almost anything to get food, resulting in morbid obesity and lung failure if left untreated.

Sadly, there is no cure. However, when she was 23, Kane moved into a home for adults with Prader-Willi and has since lost 150 pounds. Meanwhile, groups such as the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association can help sufferers and their families find help.

Does Seeing Someone Eat Make You Want to Eat Too?

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

We've all been there. You're happily hanging out, doing your thing, and your co-worker, roommate, significant other, or friend starts munching away on a bag of chips, a cookie, a bowl of ice cream, or whatever. You can have two reactions - it either doesn't bother you in the slightest, or it drives you crazy and you go from perfectly content to ravenous in three seconds. So tell me . . .

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How Many Times a Day Do You Feel Hungry?

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Some people hardly ever get pangs of hunger, and others say they feel hungry all day. My stomach begins to growl about four times a day, right before breakfast, lunch, my 4:00 snack, and dinner. I actually love feeling hungry right before a meal, because it feels really satisfying to sit down and enjoy a plate of delicious food. So what about you?

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Rate of Obesity Higher For Women Because . . .

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0800

I thought it was just my personality that causes me to have a hard time saying no to yummy treats, but it looks like the reason is actually my gender. New research indicates that women are less able to suppress feelings of hunger than men.

In a recent study involving 13 women and 10 men, scientists taught the participants a technique called cognitive inhibition, to enable both genders to ignore feelings of hunger. Then all the participants were asked to fast overnight. The next morning, the scientists showed the men and women delicious foods and scanned their brains monitoring their reactions, while the participants practiced the cognitive inhibition technique. Both men and women say the technique worked, but the brain scans showed the part of the brain that responds to food remained active in the women, while it decreased for the men. Even though the women said they were less hungry, the part of the brain that controls their drive to eat was all fired up.

This gender difference when it comes to food and hunger may explain why more women overeat, and therefore have a higher rate of obesity. Scientists think it may have to do with the difference in our hormones. What do you think? In your experiences, do you crave and think about food more than the guys you know?

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Quiz: Keeping a Check on Hunger

FitSugar — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:30:00 -0800

Whether you are trying to lose a few pounds, or whether you will be spending an extended time on the slopes, you want to avoid hunger pangs. Do you know how to keep your hunger in check? Answer this one question to see if you know.

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Take the quiz

You Asked: Why Do Hangovers Make Me Hungry?

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:30:00 -0700

You're asking, and I'm answering.

Dear Fit,

I've noticed that on a day after a night of heavy drinking, whether I'm hungover or not, I tend to be ravenously hungry. I know that people joke about "hangover foods," but for me, it's not just craving greasy treats. I actually just feel insatiably hungry. Why is this?

- Hungry and Hungover

To see the answer, read more.

Ah, yes. As if the headache weren't bad enough, you also have to worry about a hangover interfering with your healthy eating habits. Before I started researching this answer, I assumed it had something to do with blood sugar, and indeed, blood sugar takes the blame for postparty hunger pangs.

Alcohol, as we know, is high in carbohydrates, and drinking heavily can temporarily decrease your blood-sugar levels. Basically, alcohol throws your blood sugar out of whack, and your body spends the next day trying to readjust, leading to increased hunger.

Here's what else I've been able to figure out from my research. When you drink, your liver is so busy metabolizing the alcohol that it neglects to produce glucose like it usually does. It's especially bad if you're drinking on an empty stomach, because then the drop in blood sugar is even more dramatic, resulting in ravenous hunger. In addition, drinking inhibits the production of a stimulant called glutamine, so the next day, when you've dropped drinking, your body churns out more glutamine than it needs. The resultant overstimulation may also contribute to increased hunger.

I'm no doctor, so that's about as much as I've been able to figure out, and it makes sense to me. Got your own knowledge of the subject? Share it below.

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When Are You Most Hungry?

FitSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Most days I wake up starving. It is the reason I get out of bed. Depending on what I eat for lunch, 3 p.m. or so brings hunger my way as well. I believe in snacking because it helps keep those "food swings" at bay.

What about you . . .

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Diet Tip: Listen to Your Hunger

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:00:00 -0700

If you're trying to drop a few pounds, you know that you need to be consuming fewer calories. That doesn't mean you should stop eating or miss meals altogether though. When your body is hungry, you've got to feed it. Research shows that skipping out on eating and ignoring your hunger pains will only cause you to eat more later on in the day. Personally, I know if I skip out on eating my afternoon snack, I'll crave everything in sight and end up stuffing my face and overeating when it's dinnertime. So instead, curb your hunger by eating small snacks or meals, so your mind doesn't fixate on food. Choose foods that are full of fiber (like fruits and veggies) or high in protein (like cheese and yogurt) since those will satisfy your belly and keep you feeling full the longest.

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Craving vs. Hunger: What's the Difference?

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:30:00 -0700

OK so we have all these great ways on how to curb cravings but how can you tell if it's just a craving or if you're genuinely hungry? In the heat of the moment (say, just before you deep dive into a tub of chocolate cookie dough) it's not always that easy to determine which you're feeling, so ask yourself one simple question: Is it your mind talking or your stomach?

Still not sure, then use the little chart below to help you determine if you're genuinely hungry or just having a craving:

Craving	Hunger
You are not physiologically hungry, just emotionally. Only one food will alleviate your craving and the emotion intensifies the more you focus on it. Cravings pass and go away if you give them time. Doing something else satisfies and distracts you and the craving usually disappears.	You are physically hungry and getting signals from your stomach (growls, pangs, or hollow feelings) and your brain (fogginess, lack of concentration, headache, or fatigue). Any food will alleviate your hunger. Hunger does not go away unless you eat.

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Healthy Eating Tip: Sit Down and Eat Breakfast

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:30:00 -0700

I always eat breakfast. The thing is that I eat it while doing about a million other things and then when all is said and done I don't really feel like I've eaten breakfast at all. Recently I've been trying to actually give myself five minutes each morning to sit down and eat - I do this at lunch and dinner, why not breakfast too? This way I can take a step back and focus on my upcoming day and enjoy my meal. An added bonus is that once I get into the office I feel satisfied and don't need to scavenge on whatever morning treat is waiting in the kitchen here at Sugar HQ.

This is way easier said than done, by the way, but if you find yourself starving by the time you get to work even though you already ate then you may want to give it a try.

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