Satiety

Satiety is a feeling of fullness and satisfaction after eating. It is the opposite of hunger or appetite. The mechanisms and events that lead to a state of satiety are numerous, complex, and not well understood. It is believed that the release of certain hormones and the firing of certain nerves when food enters the intestine sends messages to the brain to signal that it is time to stop eating. Genetic predisposition and learned behaviors may affect at what point satiety occurs in an individual. Learning to stop eating when satiety is reached is an important component of weight control.

SEE ALSO Appetite ; Cravings ; Weight Management .

Beth Fontenot