Do you think you are a person who eats a lot? Do you have an insatiable hunger? This feeling of hunger after eating or hyperphagia can be synonymous with a physical or mental illness.
Have you ever noticed a feeling of constant hunger? A person who eats a lot can be influenced by various factors such as stress, lifestyle, worries, among many more. But when it comes to hyperphagia It is synonymous with excessive food intake.
The word hyperphagia comes partly from the Greek term ‘hyper‘ which means abundance and excess of the term ‘phage‘ which means to eat. That is, when we talk about hyperphagia we are referring to those people who eat a lot and have a constant feeling of hunger.
In psychology, hyperphagia is a medical term to indicate a excessive hunger or excess appetite It is different from being hungrier after exercise or physical activity.
Although in these cases our appetite returns to normal after eating, people who suffer from hyperphagia usually have a feeling hungry after eating In fact, individuals who suffer from this feeling of continuous hunger are unable to differentiate when they feel real appetite and when they experience it due to anxiety, stress or other reasons.
These cycles of uncontrolled eating in people who suffer from hyperphagia They can vary greatly from one person to another, and satisfying your hunger can lead to different mental and physical problems.
There are many consequences of hyperphagia, since a person who eats a lot can have a very exaggerated increase in body weight or even become obese, events that lead to cardiovascular problems or diabetes.
Symptoms of hyperphagia
He uncontrolled hunger Hyperphagia itself is usually associated with a series of symptoms that we can detect. Psychologists highlight the following:
Increased appetite: People with hyperphagia often feel that their appetite has increased disproportionately, since they have the need to eat impulsively and uncontrolled.
Culpability: this increase in appetite can be associated with a feeling of guilt for having eaten too much due to hyperphagia.
Preference for fatty or sugary foods: this ‘disease of overeating’ It also includes that people tend to have a preference for foods with a high fat and sugar content.
Overweight or obesity: This insatiable hunger caused by hyperphagia is usually associated with overweight and even obesity problems. This can lead to some diseases such as cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.
Digestive problems: another of the consequences of hyperphagia They are digestive problems. These appear when our diet is completely uncontrolled or excessive, something that makes proper digestion of food impossible.
If you experience any of these symptoms of hyperphagia You need to consult with your doctor or a mental health professional. When a person who eats a lot does not put an end to this insatiable hunger, they can lead to many physical and mental problems.
Causes of hyperphagia
Mainly at causes of hyperphagia They are usually associated with emotional problems, but can also be related to hormonal alterations. The feeling of constant hunger is linked to the following reasons:
Anxious hyperphagia: Anxiety is one of the possible causes of ravenous hunger. In fact, most people who suffer from an anxiety disorder usually experience a increased appetite Normally the reason behind it is not that they have a need, but rather this feeling of constant hunger is born from feelings of anxiety.
Bulimia: People with bulimia may also suffer from hyperphagia Despite this, when increased appetite is due to bulimia, this behavior leads to certain compensations to counteract the “excess food” that has been ingested.
Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism is a condition that affects the thyroid, causing it to work too quickly. The thyroid is a gland that produces hormones that control many of our bodily functions. Among them is controlling the metabolism, so you can have a constant feeling of hunger when these are affected.
Premenstrual syndrome: Hormonal changes associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle can cause a uncontrolled hunger This happens due to estrogen spikes and serotonin decline.
Lack of sleep: not getting enough sleep can also cause hyperphagia This happens because our body may have difficulty controlling hormone levels, especially those that regulate our appetite.
Stress: When we are stressed, our body releases a large amount of the hormone cortisol. This can be synonymous with compulsive eating. In fact, people can use satiation to deal with negative emotions, whether consciously or unconsciously.
Your diet – By eating a lot of foods with unhealthy carbohydrates and fats, people may have a constant feeling of hunger This is because these feelings lack nutrients such as fiber and protein.
The treatment of increased our appetite It will basically focus on treating the cause behind hyperphagia. As we have seen, there are many conditions that can cause this feeling of hunger after having eaten or the feeling of having insatiable hunger.
If you think you suffer from a uncontrollable increased appetite You need to go to the doctor or a professional psychologist. The reason is that there may be both a medical and physical condition behind this increased appetite. In the event that hyperphagia is due to a psychological cause such as anxiety, depression or stress, the psychologist will help you combat it through a series of strategies designed to counteract its causes.
How to combat hyperphagia?
In addition to seeing a mental health specialist, the best way to fight this insatiable hunger It is precisely by working within ourselves and managing our emotions. Additionally, it is necessary to have a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise. Learning to have a good relationship with food is also one of the ways you can take care of your mental and physical health.
