Food Intake and Stress, Human
Smith K., Goodwin GM.
The intake of food is critical for the survival of any organism. There are complex homeostatic mechanisms that ensure that when food is restricted the drive to eat increases. However, there is now growing evidence that behaviors such as dieting, during which eating behavior is purposefully modified for cosmetic or health reasons, may affect other behaviors, including mood and the ability to cope under stressful circumstances. Conversely, stress can alter food intake, and the degree to which this occurs seems to depend to some extent on preexisting eating patterns. © 2007 Copyright © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.