Two systems called Homeostatic and Hedonic hunger control the body's need for food. Homeostatic (Physiological hunger) is monitored by the hypothalamus region in the brain. When the glucose level in the blood decreases with signals from the intestines, blood and brain, it causes energy anxiety and fatigue, which prevents us from consuming food. By ensuring that homeostatic balance is re-established.
Hedonic hunger (Psychological) emerges with the effect of chain events in the middle and frontal cortical parts of the brain and these regions are the regions of the brain responsible for impulse.
Delicious, fatty, Even the thought of eating sugary food (chips, chocolate, cake, hamburger, etc.) triggers these regions of the brain; During this state, the secretion of chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and opioids that are secreted during pleasure causes food to be perceived with irresistible attraction.
The secretion of these hormones increases the feeling of "eating for relaxation". Eating after painful experiences distracts attention. and numbs the person.
This is the main reason why many people who have trouble with their weight have difficulty coping with their appetite for fatty and sugary foods.
Research shows that overeating and impulsivity go together. Overweight people are impulsive. Underneath this impulsivity, there is intense affect (intense emotional tension).
In order to relax and forget the emotions and beliefs that they have difficulty in coping with, such as sadness, grief, anger, loneliness, helplessness, panic and anxiety. overeating behavior occurs.
We see through magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques that impulsive people are more sensitive to fatty and sugary foods than non-impulsive people. Fastfood-style fatty, sugary foods are shown to impulsive people, and when brain scans are performed, they are not rewarded. It has been observed that the responsible brain regions are more activated. In addition to causing weight gain, unhealthy nutrition has addictive properties; It shows how difficult it is for people to resist this.
Impulsive irresistible eating attacks, excessive weight gain, unhealthy nutrition, etc., are problems that threaten the physical and mental health of the person. Applying behavioral methods (diet programs) against problems does not benefit the person in the long run, and every attempt we make causes the person to feel hopeless, helpless, and exhausted. Working on the emotions, beliefs, and traumatic experiences underlying this eating problem in a psychotherapy environment can help the person get rid of these problems in the long run.
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