Does weight loss make you more hungry? How to curb food cravings
You’ve done the exercise, cut the portions, and lost weight, but why are you still starving? A dietitian explains how you can better manage your ongoing struggle with hunger with these helpful tips
When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s easy to assume that as the number on the scale goes down, other issues associated with weight will be resolved. For example, if weight gain was a result of overeating, as it often is, it’s understandable to expect that hunger and cravings would decrease along with kilograms.
A small but interesting study tells a different story. It followed 35 obese people for two years as they were supported through a weight-loss programme that included nutrition and exercise guidance. The participants were asked about their feelings of hunger and fullness and then fed a meal and asked again. In addition, hormones associated with hunger and fullness were tested before and after meals.
The findings were intriguing, because although the individuals lost weight and kept it off during the two years, their feelings of hunger and desire – but not their feelings of fullness – got stronger. The hormones associated with hunger and fullness increased as well. In other words, after two years, the participants struggled with increased hunger going into meals, and even though their hormones suggested they felt satiated, they didn’t feel that way.
Why more whole foods, and no processed food, helps you lose kilos
One would hope that hunger and cravings would subside as weight changes, but that may not be the case. Managing hunger can be an ongoing struggle. Here are three tactics to help you get through those hungry moments.