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  Why Do Researchers Now Believe Loneliness Drives Overeating Like Hunger? Hunger is usually thought of as a biological signal. Your stomach is empty. Your body needs energy. Appetite rises. You eat, and the sensation gradually subsides. But what if some forms of eating are driven by a different kind of need? You may have already eaten enough, yet suddenly find yourself searching for something sweet. You might open the refrigerator after a stressful day, reach for snacks while watching television, or continue eating even though your stomach is physically full. Sometimes the trigger is not hunger at all. It may be boredom, stress, sadness, fatigue, or the uncomfortable feeling of being alone. Researchers are increasingly interested in the possibility that loneliness can influence eating behavior through biological and psychological pathways that overlap with systems involved in hunger, reward, stress, and motivation . This does not mean loneliness literally creates a second stomach ...