Talk:Hunger

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To-do list for Hunger: edit · history · watch · refresh
  • Find some more references
  • Discuss the role of hunger in migration and dispersal of animals (see the external link for reading, further references are needed on the subject).
Priority 3  

Contents

[edit] How can there be no data anyhwere in wikipedia on this?

How much days can one survive without drinking?, how many without eating? without breathing? The answer is borderer but not treated.Undead Herle King (talk) 04:03, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Sounds and feelings

Under the 'Hunger as a condition'-section, it is stated that gurgling sounds and bubbling feelings are what induce stomach shrinking. The reason for the gurgling and bubbling is never properly explained. Gamkiller 07:34, 4 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Health Effects

Shouldn't this article contain some information on short term and/or long term health effects caused by (especially prolonged or frequent) hunger? Is it detrimental to your health to fast?

[edit] stomach

What is the 'pit' of the stomach?

[edit] Poor entry

This is a dictionary entry, and a poor one at that. There's nothing but usage information for the word "hunger" here. AxelBoldt 21:14 Nov 20, 2002 (UTC)

Then please flesh it out with a physiological description. --Brion 21:17 Nov 20, 2002 (UTC)
Generally I agree in condemning such criticisms, because rather than criticize, one can add, or ask questions and make polite requests for expansion. Tyciol 06:38, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Physiological description

That may be better suited to Starvation, unless the (many) specific chemical changes in the body that trigger hunger are documented here. -64.235.174.78

What exactly is your body signalling a need for when you're hungry? I know it's food, but what exactly does it need? What nutrient deficiency causes hunger? --SPUI (talk) 17:41, 11 Mar 2005 (UTC)
I'd like to see more of a physiological description too. I am surprised with the problems many have with overeating, food addictions, anorexia, etc. that this article has not been more fully explored. I am of the opinion that what the article currently consists of should be secondary content. Instead, the primary one should be the biological basis of hunger, and how it manifests as physical pain and mental need. Who agrees?Tyciol 06:38, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Same as URL

I notice this page is exactly the same as [1]. What's company policy on this? 209.195.128.7218 May 2005

The BiologyDaily site may use this page under the GFDL, as long as Wikipedia is credited. JFW | T@lk 22:21, 18 May 2005 (UTC)
Generally, the policy is that if it's free, it's fine to have similarities or to base it on another page. We should supplement it with info from other sources to make it better, less biased, up to date, and all-encompassing though. Tyciol 06:38, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stomach "shrinkage"

I have heard from a couple sources that your stomach does not actually "shrink" when you do not eat enough food. From what I understand, your body is actually producing less stomach acid to dissolve your food. The stomach acid triggers the "hungry" feeling in your stomach, and as the acid gets used up on food, you do not feel as hungry. So when you have less acid, you do not fill up as fast. If I could find some sources, I think this should be pointed out... because a lot of people seem to be spouting off this "myth" about our stomachs shrinking. -Unknown

I believe the rumour is true, but not in the degree most people think. The stomach very likely has a minimum size that it won't shrink past, which is why people get surgery to make it smaller (a full stomach does induce fullness). Any shrinkage beyond minimum would probably be due to catabolization of stomach tissue, which I can't see happening very easily due to the anti-evolutionary aspects of the trait. Stomachs due 'stretch' though, as far as I know, which is how power eating works, so if someone reduced their food intake or ate smaller meals, the stomach might reduce to it's minimum, rather than stretching out from larger meals? Tyciol 07:31, 19 March 2006 (UTC)

That's pretty much what I have run across from searching around. So it would make sense then that when people say their "stomach shrank", it was really they just let their appetites return to their minimum appetites. Anyways, thanks. -Unknown

[edit] Politics of Hunger

The last sentence needs to be deleted as it reflects an anti-American bias. The United States should not be singled out.

I agree with the non-neutral POV tag above. The military expenditure of many nations exceeds 19 billion dollars U.S., yet they are not mentioned. Why it is the responsibility of the United States to feed the hungry or why the military spending of the United States' (or anywhere else) is relevant to the discussion escapes me.

I've removed the section. If anyone wants to readd it, feel free to do so, but don't single out any countries. _-M o P-_ 20:51, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Satiety

Mentioning satiety would be a great addition to the article. --Abdull 15:39, 25 May 2006 (UTC) Here is a thought on this subject. There are people in the World that are spending millions of Dollars on finding out if there is drinkable water in Mars. Why not spend those same Dollars on figuring out how to sustain water in the third world Countries so they DON'T HAVE to RELY on the USA or other far better off countries?

[edit] Chart

China is not on the list. Also, wouldnt percentages be better than total numbers? (IE: at this stage, small countries are excluded no matter what) -146.115.65.15 10:02, 29 June 2006

I updated the list with newer statistic from FAO: http://www.fao.org/faostat/foodsecurity/index_en.htm Also, I definitely think that a percentile should be added to the chart, while keeping the total numbers too. However, I need to find a population chart for 2001-2003 to do that. Anyone? twsjon 12:45, 29 June 2006


[edit] Progress in World Hunger

Little progress has been made in tackling world hunger despite pledges by leaders to halve the number who are underfed, the UN's food agency says.
Some 820m people in the developing world were hungry in 2001-2003, only 3m fewer than 1990-1992, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6099460.stm
vkvora 03:56, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] America has abolished hunger

"The USDA will now use the term "very low food security" to describe people who used to be considered "food insecure with hunger." Statistically speaking, hunger will no longer exist in America." [2]

I have no idea how or if this should be mentioned, but I thought you'd be interested to know that America has abolished hunger. Regards, Ben Aveling 06:12, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

Inaccurate. Abolition is what pansy-ass Europeans do. America exterminated hunger. With a vengeance - to a kill. User talk:p0rq 18:37, 06 May 2007 (GMT)

[edit] Increased Activity While Sleeping?

How is a pattern of increased activity in humans demonstrated while they are sleeping? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.5.76.92 (talk) 19:17, 20 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Relieve Pressure on population

It is not clear how increased activity due to hunger would relieve pressure on native population. Needs more elaboration. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Thinking-ape (talk • contribs) 15:11, 30 September 2007 (UTC)

I couldn't figure out what hamster wheels had to do with any population. This sentence is confusing as [vulgarity] 136.176.100.79 (talk) 18:44, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

I think the experiment involving the hamsters indicated that hunger increases activity and that the increased activity usually results in a more widespread search for food. If the population is covering an expanded territory, then the need for food is less pressing. 149.159.101.89 (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 18:24, 2 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Hunger is a feeling experienced when the glycogen level of the liver falls below a threshold,

I do not think that's necessary correct. A lot of things are affecting our feeling of hunger. Stomach contraction, blood sugar (glucose in the blood), perceptions of food and so on. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.134.121.18 (talk) 23:37, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Does it actually exist? How much is psychology driven?

Considering putting a pet an abundance of food it'll keep eating and eating till it is very fat, or try the same with a child and sweets or try the same with an adult that doesn't think that much about dietary habits and fast foods, it makes you easily think there might be a fine line between "hunger" and "instinctive draw to food whenever, for whatever, till it's not possible enough to eat". I for one would like to see sources and this article discussing these things. --Leladax (talk) 19:34, 12 March 2008 (UTC)