Hunger is your body's way of telling you it needs energy. But the reason you feel hungry isn't always as simple as an empty stomach!
Ghrelin is often called the “hunger hormone.” Its levels can rise before meals, helping signal that it's time to eat.
A region of your brain called the hypothalamus helps regulate hunger and fullness by responding to signals from your body.
The smell and sight of delicious food can stimulate your appetite, even when you weren't thinking about eating!
Too little sleep can influence appetite and the hormones involved in hunger and fullness, potentially making you feel hungrier.
Signals from your stomach and intestines help your brain recognise fullness. Eating slowly can give these signals more time to register.