What is hunger?

• A. A natural physical drive to eat prompted by the body's need for food
• B. A desire to try new foods
• C. A feeling of fullness
• D. Mindful eating

Answer: (A)

Hunger is a natural physical drive to eat prompted by the body's need for food. When energy stores are low, the body releases signals—such as hormonal changes and stomach contractions—that alert the brain to seek and consume fuel. This is a bodily cue tied to energy balance, not just a wish or thought.

This differs from appetite, which is the desire to eat driven by taste, mood, or variety rather than a true energy need. It also isn’t fullness, which is the feeling that comes after eating when the stomach is stretched and signals reduce hunger. Mindful eating, meanwhile, is about paying attention to those hunger and fullness signals and choosing when to eat based on them, rather than reacting automatically.

So the best description of hunger is the natural physical drive to eat prompted by the body's need for food.