Linking Cognition to Eating Disorders

 

Our thoughts affect the choices we make every day.

Most people think about:

• When they are hungry.
• What food they would like.
• When they feel full.

The brain uses information from:

• Hunger.
• Memories.
• Feelings.
• Past experiences.
• The senses (taste and smell).

to help decide when and what to eat.

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Healthy Thinking About Food

Healthy thinking might include:

• "I'm hungry, so I'll have lunch."
• "I've had enough to eat."
• "I want to eat healthy foods most of the time."

The brain combines:

• Physical signals from the body.
• Thoughts.
• Feelings.
• Experiences.

before making decisions.

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When Thinking Becomes Unhelpful

Sometimes thoughts about food become unhealthy.

For example, a person may think:

• "I'm overweight," even when they are underweight.
• "If I eat this, I'm a failure."
• "I must lose more weight."

These thoughts can affect behaviour and may contribute to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

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The Brain and Hunger

Our brain also receives messages from the body.

For example:

• Ghrelin tells us we are hungry.
• Leptin helps tell us we are full.
• Blood glucose levels also influence hunger.

Normally, these signals help keep our eating balanced.

However, psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, or distorted body image can sometimes override these natural hunger and fullness signals.

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Why This Fits Module 3

This shows that thinking, memory, emotions, and decision-making all work together.

Our brains do not simply react to hunger.

They also use:

• Experience.
• Beliefs.
• Emotions.
• Learning.
• Memory.
• Perception.

to influence eating behaviour.