A German study confirmed the relationship between glucose levels and feelings of hunger or satiety and the reduction in mood status, and the results supported the hypothesis that hunger contributes to negative mood, which aligns with the psychological structure of the emotion theory.
The psychological structure of the emotion theory assumes that internal perception transforms physiological states (such as low blood sugar) into a cognitive experience of hunger.
In the study, the research team from the Universities of Bonn and Tübingen collected glucose measurements over 4 weeks for 90 healthy individuals, assessing and following up on mood statuses.
According to the journal "BioMedicine," the researchers found that glucose spikes are associated with satiety, and hunger is associated with negative mood states.
Awareness of Hunger
Results showed that mood changes related to hunger depend on metabolically sensed states consciously, rather than subconscious signals of glucose levels as observed in animal lab studies.
This supports psychological theories of emotion, emphasizing the integration of bodily signals with conscious experience.
Notably, studying these internal sensory processes (perception) enhances the scientific understanding of mood regulation and explains why metabolic disorders, like obesity and insulin resistance, are often associated with mood disorders.
Anxiety and Aggression
The researchers found that hunger is associated with anxiety, arousal, sadness, increased irritability, aggression, and anger.
While satiety enhances satisfaction, relaxation, and calmness.
Based on this, hungry women with healthy weight in the experiment reported increased stress, anger, fatigue, confusion, and decreased activity and self-confidence.
