h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One recurring theme in these postings is "only eat when you need to eat, and don't eat more than you need". In other words, your body will tell you what, when and how much you need to eat. However, it has been found that, in many people with weight problems, the mechanism that tells you when to eat and when to stop has become defective. This means that you eat more than your body actually needs, which prolongs the problem. The 'defect' can be put right, though - without operations or pills or any other kind of medical interference. All you need to do is eat sensibly and exercise. By 'eat sensibly' I mean reasonable portions of foods that contain the nutrients (protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrate, etc.) that your body needs. As for exercise, it has been found that, if you exercise regularly, your body will regulate the 'I'm hungry' signals so that you only get hungry when you really do need to eat.

Putting it succinctly, bad eating habits cause the problem. Good eating habits and exercise can cure it.

I do notice that sometimes when I've eaten what looks like enough but I'm still hungry, if I don't eat more, the hungry feeling wears off. I do think you're right about habit.

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