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Body measures and lab tests

Satiety

Satiety is the feeling of fullness and lack of hunger that lasts after a meal and influences how long it is until you want to eat again.

Updated Body measures and lab tests
DefinitionSatiety is the feeling of fullness and lack of hunger that lasts after a meal and influences how long it is until you want to eat again.

What it means

Researchers sometimes separate two ideas. Satiation is what makes you stop eating during a meal. Satiety is how long you stay satisfied afterward. Both come from a mix of stomach stretch, gut hormones, blood sugar, brain reward signals and habit.

Gut hormones released after eating, including GLP-1, PYY and cholecystokinin, help signal fullness, while ghrelin tends to rise before meals. Studies suggest protein is among the most filling nutrients, and high-volume foods with fiber and water can help too, though results vary between people.

GLP-1 medicines strengthen satiety by acting on appetite centers in the brain and slowing stomach emptying. Many people feel full after much smaller portions.

A common tip on these medicines is to eat slowly and stop at the first sign of fullness. Eating past that point is a frequent trigger for nausea and reflux.

Why it matters

Stronger satiety is the main way GLP-1 medicines help people eat less without constant hunger.

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Sources

  1. Insights into the constellating drivers of satiety (PubMed Central)
  2. Dietary protein and appetite sensations in overweight and obesity: a systematic review (PubMed)