Obesity and Mindful Eating Food is necessary to sustain life and
maintain good health. However, the internal physiological
mechanisms that exist to moderate hunger, appetite and satiety
can be overridden or ignored in favor of a range of external
factors, making it difficult to differentiate between the
physical requirement for nutrients and the desire to eat in
order to fulfill other needs. Whilst this disconnect can lead to
poor food choices, overeating and obesity, the learned skill of
mindful eating can help restore patterns of behavior supportive
of physical health and emotional wellbeing. External Influences
upon Eating Behavior Mindless or Unconscious Eating Many people
will be familiar with the experience of finding they have
unexpectedly finished their meal or snack, have consumed more
than they had intended or feel uncomfortably over-full, because
their attention was elsewhere whilst eating. It is common for
people to eat whilst engaging in other activities such as
watching television, having a conv