In our recent article published in Current Nutrition Reports, we introduce Sedatic Hunger—a novel conceptualization of hunger defined by eating purely to survive, not to savor.
Unlike physiological hunger (which is resolved with both energy replenishment and satisfaction) or hedonic hunger (which is pleasure-driven), Sedatic Hunger reflects a neutral, duty-oriented approach to eating. Individuals experiencing it consume food not for taste or emotional comfort, but solely to meet biological needs.
We propose that Sedatic Hunger is particularly prevalent in individuals experiencing depression, dietary monotony, socioeconomic hardship, or high-performance demands. To better understand and assess this phenomenon, we initiated the development of the Sedatic Hunger Scale (SHS)—a tool designed to identify and quantify this form of emotionally detached eating.
Through structured comparisons with other eating styles—such as Intuitive Eating, Internally Regulated Eating, and Epicurean Eating—we highlight how Sedatic Hunger fills a major gap in the literature on eating behavior.
We hope this framework inspires further research and clinical inquiry into cases where food is perceived not as nourishment or joy, but as necessity.
📄 Read the full article here:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-025-00677-6