Human Needs and Motivation: Eating Made by Audra Bajorinaitė PSbns nd of March, 2010

Content:  For starters  The regulation of hunger: Biological factors  Social factors  The roots of obesity  Eating disorders: Anorexia nervosa  Bulimia  Loosing weight and staying healthy  Conclusion  References

For starters United States and the rest of the world. Body mass index (BMI) – a measure of obesity, based on a ratio of weight to height. Obesity: Body weight that is more than 20 percent above the average for a person of a particular height. The subjectivity of beauty conception.

The regulation of hunger: Biological factors Hypothalamus - an important part of the brain which monitors glucose levels. Injuries to the lateral and ventromedial hypothalamus. Weight set point – the particular level of weight that the body strives to maintain. Metabolism – the rate at which food is converted to energy and expended by the body.

The regulation of hunger: Social factors Societal rules and cultural influences. Eating habits. Preference to particular foods. Operant conditioning – food might be associated with comfort and consolation.

The roots of obesity Leptin – the hormone which appears to be designed to protect the body against weight loss. Weight-set-point hypothesis. Hypothesis of settling point – eating habits are influenced by a combination of our genetic heritage and the nature of the environment.

Eating disorders: Anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa: A severe eating disorder in which people may refuse to eat while denying that their behavior and appearance – which can become skeletonlike – are unusual.

Eating disorders: Bulimia Bulimia: A disorder in which a person binges on incredibly large quantities of food and later may attempt to purge the food through vomiting or the use of laxatives.

Loosing weight and staying healthy 1.There is no easy route to weight control. 2.Keep track of what you eat and what you weight. 3.Eat “big” foods. 4.Cut out television. 5.Exercise.

6.Decrease the influence of external, social stimuli on your eating behavior. 7.Avoid diets. 8.Maintain good eating habits. 9.Set reasonable goals. 10.Don’t feel guilty!

Conclusion: Food is especially important in people’s lives not only in biological, but also in social and emotional standpoints. Eating disorders would be prevented if appreciation of food and correct eating habits are learned in the early childhood.

References: Robert S.Feldman. Understanding Psychology. 7 th Edition. Module 30. Pictures: (all found on 20 th of March, 2010.)

Thank You for Your attention! Do You have any questions?