New Lancet Study: 'Hangry' Feelings Linked to Conscious Hunger Awareness, Not Just Low Blood Sugar
Lifestyle
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News18•25-01-2026, 16:18
New Lancet Study: 'Hangry' Feelings Linked to Conscious Hunger Awareness, Not Just Low Blood Sugar
- •A new Lancet study challenges the belief that low blood sugar directly causes 'hangry' mood swings, finding conscious awareness of hunger is key.
- •The study, involving 90 healthy adults, used continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to track glucose levels, mood, and hunger ratings.
- •Participants reported worse moods only when they consciously acknowledged hunger, not merely when glucose levels dropped, suggesting a psychological component.
- •Interoception, the brain's ability to sense internal bodily signals, plays a crucial role; individuals with higher interoceptive accuracy experienced fewer mood fluctuations.
- •The research explains why children are prone to hunger-related meltdowns and how adults, distracted by modern life, often ignore early hunger cues, leading to mood shifts.
Why It Matters: Conscious awareness and interpretation of hunger, not just low blood sugar, drive 'hangry' mood swings.
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