Physiological Factors Affecting Food Intake

Strong social, environmental, economic and physiological factors govern your food intake. Of these, your physiological eating factors manage your hunger, increasing it when your activity level increases at specific times of the day, or decreasing it as your eat enough food to fill you up. Other physiological factors, such as the smell and appearance of food, contribute to your body's desire to eat.

Leptin

• The satiety factors in your body alert your system when you are full and no longer require more food. Satiety factors play a crucial role in your ability to manage your food intake, giving you the feeling of fullness and telling your body you do not need more food. Leptin is a vital hormone released most commonly in the fat cells in your body. This process begins when you consume more food than your body requires. When released, Leptin tells your body you are full and gives you the feeling of being satiated.

Smell and Appearance

• The smell and appearance of food are two of many pregastic factors that influence your desire to consume. Others include your personal preferences and your emotional state. The smell and appearance of food cause strong physiological reactions in your body. These reactions are more severe in conjunction with multiple pregastric factors, such as food that smells good, looks good and is one of your favorite dishes. These reactions include salivation and the desire to consume. These physiological reactions are difficult to ignore and influence you to consume, even when you are not hungry.

Ghrelin

• Ghrelin is a modulating hormonal peptide that induces hunger at a biologically set factor, such as your normal breakfast time, lunch time or dinner time. As you move toward your normal mealtime, your body's level of Ghrelin increases, triggering your hunger and convincing you to eat. Your stomach and hypothalamus are your body's two primary sources of Ghrelin. Ghrelin is a physiological response to a social behavior. The physiological response is the release of the Ghrelin, while the social behavior is your preset meal times.

Cholecystokinin

• Cholecystokinin serves two primary responsibilities in your body. First, your small intestines release it, alerting your pancreas and gallbladder to produce digestive materials and bile. This is an important trigger for your body to begin digesting newly-eaten food. Second, it provides another satiety factor. As a satiety factor, it tells your body you are done eating and leaves you with the feeling of being full.