Published on: 4/7/2025
This sensation might happen when the signals from your stomach and brain are a bit mixed up. It involves hormones and the way your stomach empties food, which can make you feel full even when you're still hungry.
Several things can make you feel full in your stomach while still feeling hungry. Your brain and stomach work together using special signals and hormones to manage hunger and fullness. Sometimes, these signals can get a little mixed up. One reason could be that the hormones that tell you when to stop eating, like cholecystokinin, might be released a bit too early or too strongly. At the same time, another hormone called ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry, might still be active. This mix-up can happen if you eat certain types of foods or if your eating habits have changed. Another possibility is that your stomach might empty its contents more slowly than normal, a condition that can delay the feeling of being fully fed even when the stomach feels stretched. Stress and other lifestyle factors can also affect how these signals work. In short, the complex teamwork between your stomach and your brain can sometimes lead to feeling full while your body still really wants more energy.
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