Why We Overeat: A Complex Look at Hormones, Digestion, and Lifestyle
Overeating is a common issue today, rooted in biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Understanding why we overeat requires a closer look at how hormones, digestion, food choices, and chronic health conditions contribute to eating behaviors.
At the hormonal level, several factors regulate our feelings of hunger and fullness. Ghrelin, known as the “hunger hormone,” stimulates appetite, while leptin is responsible for signaling satiety, or the feeling of fullness. However, modern lifestyles and diets can disrupt the balance of these hormones, leading to increased food intake. Estradiol, another important hormone, also plays a role in appetite regulation. When estradiol levels are high, it can interfere with satiety signals, making it harder for individuals to feel satisfied after a meal.
Digestion and gastrointestinal movement are also key to understanding hunger. The migrating motor complex (MMC), a series of contractions that sweeps through the intestines, helps move food and waste along the digestive tract. However, overeating and erratic eating habits can inhibit the MMC, slowing digestion and causing bloating, which may prompt more eating to ease discomfort.
Modern diets rich in ultra-processed foods—sugary snacks, refined carbohydrates, and processed oils—add further complexity. These foods are engineered to be hyper-palatable, bypassing natural satiety signals and encouraging overeating. They also lead to spikes in insulin, the hormone that manages blood sugar, which can make it harder for the body to burn fat and lead to insulin resistance. This resistance impairs cells’ ability to produce energy efficiently, often resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic fatigue.
For individuals with gut conditions like celiac disease and other malabsorption issues, overeating can stem from a different problem. When the gut is inflamed or damaged, it struggles to absorb nutrients effectively, leading to deficiencies that the body tries to correct through increased food intake. However, this often worsens the situation as inflammation and nutrient malabsorption continue to affect digestion and trigger more eating.
Lastly, cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, can drive cravings for high-calorie, sugary foods as a coping mechanism for stress. Chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels contribute to insulin resistance and inflammation, reinforcing a cycle of overeating.
In today’s fast-paced, food-abundant world, recognizing these underlying causes of overeating is essential. By understanding the roles of hormones, digestion, and food choices, we can make more informed decisions to foster healthier eating habits and long-term well-being.
