Cited by 115Regulation of Appetite and ObesityNutrition, Health and Food BehaviorEating Disorders and Behaviors

The drive to eat in homo sapiens: Energy expenditure drives energy intake

Blundell, John E, Gibbons, Catherine, Beaulieu, Kristine, Casanova, Nuno, Duarte, Cristiana, Finlayson, Graham, Stubbs, R James, Hopkins, Mark·2020·Physiology & Behavior

Abstract

The drive to eat is a component of appetite control, independent of the omnivorous habit of humans, and separate from food choice, satiety and food reward. The drive forms part of the tonic component of appetite and arises from biological needs; it is distinct from episodic aspects of appetite which are heavily influenced by culture and the environment (and which reflect the omnivorous habit). It is proposed that the tonic drive to eat reflects a need state generated by metabolic energy expenditure (EE) required to maintain the functioning and integrity of vital organs. Specifically, the tonic drive is quantitatively associated with fat-free mass (FFM) and resting metabolic rate (RMR). A rational proposition is that high metabolic rate organs (such as heart, liver, kidneys, brain) together with skeletal muscle generate a metabolic need which drives energy intake (EI). The basic phenomenon of a relationship between FFM, RMR and EI, first published in 2011, has been substantially replicated and there are at least 14 concordant published studies carried out in 9 different countries (and 4 continents) with various ethnic groups of lean and obese humans. These studies demonstrate that FFM and RMR represent major determinants of the drive to eat, and this is rational from an evolutionary perspective. The EE of bodily movements through skeletal muscle activity (namely physical activity and exercise) represents another driver which is clearly but more weakly associated with an increase in EI. This account of appetite control, developed within an energy balance framework, is consistent with the apparent inexorable escalation of fatness in individual humans, and for the progressive increase in the prevalence of obesity which, among other factors, reflects the difficulty of managing the biological drive to eat.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112846

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Authors
Blundell, J. E., Gibbons, C., Beaulieu, K., Casanova, N., Duarte, C., Finlayson, G., Stubbs, R. J., & Hopkins, M.
Affiliations
University of Leeds (GB)
Corresponding author
Blundell, John E
Venue
Physiology & Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-05
Volume
219
Pages
112846
ISSN
0031-9384 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3007135709
Cited by
115
References
90
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 5 · 2012: 1
FWCI
2.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Physiology & Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
  • Research at York St John (York St John University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/G005524/1, BBS/B/05079)
  • Seventh Framework Programme (266408)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Keywords
appetite regulation, energy expenditure, energy intake, fat-free mass, resting metabolic rate, energy balance, obesity, physical activity, skeletal muscle, evolutionary perspective
MeSH terms
Appetite, Appetite Regulation, Body Composition, Energy Intake, Energy Metabolism, Humans

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