3 effects of hunger on the body (2024)

FAQs

3 effects of hunger on the body? ›

Hunger can trigger mood changes and lead to anxiety, and over time, depression. People experiencing hunger may also have difficulty sleeping. The body needs food to function normally. When food reserves are depleted, muscles weaken and significant weight loss can occur, making it difficult to perform daily tasks.

The physical effects of starvation on the body are wasting, swelling (edema), susceptibility to disease, and eventually death. The mental effects of starvation include behavioral changes, food obsession, and irritability.

Hunger is most commonly a response to food deprivation, fasting, or restricted eating, but there are other causes of hunger. Lifestyle factors, medical conditions, and medications can cause hunger.

Interconnected issues of poverty, inequity, conflict, climate change, gender discrimination, and weak government and health systems all play a role in keeping nutritious food out of reach for millions of families around the world. When children don't have enough food, their brains and bodies suffer.

Dr. Hillman explains, “If you're actually hungry, you'll experience true hunger cues, such as stomach growling, low energy, shakiness, headaches and problems focusing.” It's just as important to recognize when you listen to those signals too, so you know what they feel like for the future.

Poor nutrition caused by hunger can lead to various serious health issues, such as weight loss, fatigue, anemia, weakened immune systems, and even cognitive delays, such as difficulty learning or concentrating.

Metabolism slows, the body cannot regulate its temperature, kidney function is impaired and the immune system weakens. When the body uses its reserves to provide basic energy needs, it can no longer supply necessary nutrients to vital organs and tissues. The heart, lungs, ovaries and testes shrink.

Facing hunger can be stressful. Constantly worrying about where your next meal will come from can cause mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and even posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Low blood sugar causes people to feel irritable, confused and fatigued. The body begins to increase production of cortisol, leaving us stressed and hangry. Skipping meals can also cause your metabolism to slow down, which can cause weight gain or make it harder to lose weight.

Physical Effects

Hunger can lead to malnutrition, which can cause various physical health problems, including stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and increased risk of disease.

What does hunger do to the brain? ›

We know that brain activity is affected by even modest dieting. When a person is malnourished, their brain is not adequately fuelled; they struggle to make decisions, solve problems and regulate their emotions (Centre for Clinical Interventions, 2018a).

It's a cyclical problem too – if you're constantly hungry, you suffer from low levels of energy and reductions in mental and physical functioning, which in turn makes it difficult for you to work or learn. This then leads to continued poverty and continued hunger.

As we've learned, when we're hungry, ghrelin levels increase. And one of ghrelin's jobs is to stimulate the production of stomach acid, which is a powerful brew. If your stomach stays empty, this acid hangs around with nothing to do. And that can make you feel a little queasy.

Whereas the typical affect during satiety was satisfaction, relaxation, and calmness, hunger was associated with restlessness and excitability. As the hunger became more severe (but still within the everyday range), 'nervousness' and irritability became prominent for the majority of respondents.

Hunger pains feel like a gnawing or rumbling in the stomach. They may also present as contractions or the feeling of emptiness. Other symptoms may include: cravings for certain foods.

Low blood sugar causes people to feel irritable, confused and fatigued. The body begins to increase production of cortisol, leaving us stressed and hangry. Skipping meals can also cause your metabolism to slow down, which can cause weight gain or make it harder to lose weight.

Hunger is your body's natural cue that it needs more food. When you're hungry, your stomach may “growl” and feel empty, or you may get a headache, feel irritable, or be unable to concentrate. Most people can go several hours between meals before feeling hungry again.

As the breakdown of muscle speeds up, the body begins to lose heart, kidney, and liver function. This is what may ultimately lead to death. Because a starving body lacks the resources to stay healthy, infection is another possible cause of death.