Food Craving: A Signal of the Heart, Head, or Heritage?

摘要

Food craving, defined as an intense desire to eat a specific foodstuff, is a common occurrence across all cultures and societies. These yearnings, and those associated with non-foodstuffs such as pagophagia (the practice of consuming ice) and geophagia (literally, earth-eating), are not linked to any obvious nutrient insufficiency. In some individuals, food cravings and dietary restriction may be related; however, these observations are inconsistent with the majority of published studies. A number of mechanisms have been advanced to explain the physiological and pathological changes in behavior that lead to food cravings and a loss of control over eating. The latter, of course, is a major concern with obesity and a number of eating disorders.