Is it ever Enough? Food Consumption,Satiation and Obesity

In order to explain the growth of obesity in industrialized and transitioneconomies, a behavioral approach to food intake and overconsumption of caloriesis presented. It is argued that changes in food consumption patterns are one of themain drivers behind the imbalance of calories consumed and calories spent. Theinclusion of new types of food in the regular diet of individuals led to changes inthe motives for eating. While the intake of nutrients has always been and still is aprime motive of food consumption, it will be argued that with a growing variety offood items other motives increasingly take over as major drivers of the expandingfood intake. These other motives also cause that the internal signals indicating tothe body when to close a consumption act now occur with delay. The interrelationof biological and psychological factors and changes in the composition of diettherefore forms the basis for weight gain and, in the long run, obesity.