As parents, we’ve all been there – the sudden meltdown in the playground, triggered by a simple case of hunger. But why do some people seem more susceptible to this ‘hangriness’ than others? A new study sheds light on the psychological factors at play.
Researchers from the University of Tübingen and University of Bonn in Germany equipped 90 healthy adults with continuous glucose monitors for a month. Participants were also asked to regularly report their mood and hunger levels on their smartphones. The results were surprising.
Firstly, people only experienced worse moods when they acknowledged feeling hungry – not simply when their blood sugar levels dipped. Secondly, those who were more attuned to their body’s internal signals, a trait known as interoceptive accuracy, were less prone to negative mood swings.
“This suggests there is a key psychological middle step between a person’s energy and mood levels,” explains Professor Nils Kroemer, the study’s lead author. “Conscious feelings of hunger are linked to the insula, a part of the brain that processes taste and emotion.”
For young children, whose bodies and brains are still developing, it can be especially challenging to interpret these internal cues. “They are easily distracted by their surroundings and often fail to attend to hunger or thirst without prompting,” says Kroemer.
The same can be true for many busy adults, constantly bombarded by digital distractions. “One simple life hack is to keep a regular meal schedule, as hunger often kicks in when we skip a meal,” Kroemer advises.
While our moods are influenced by a multitude of factors, being more aware of our body’s energy needs can make a real difference. Activities like exercise can sharpen our hunger sensing and improve metabolic efficiency.
“Most of the time, our moods are only modestly affected by hunger,” Kroemer concludes. “But one of the lessons is to take care of our loved ones’ food needs before they become obvious. Perhaps we all need to be more vigilant about the risk of getting hangry.”