Why You're Craving That Dessert

It’s hard to put down that spoon when you’re faced with your most crave-worthy dessert.
If you’ve ever wondered why, now there’s a scientific explanation.

When you eat a favorite food for pleasure—say, chocolate cheesecake— your body activates signals encouraging you to consume more. But when you eat because you’re hungry, perhaps making a less yummy choice, your body doesn’t release the hormone ghrelin that leads to your desire to continue consuming food.

In fact, hedonic hunger, or wanting to eat because it feels good, may lead to overeating, especially when so many tempting foods are easily available, according to a recent study in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.