You’ve just eaten a full meal, but somehow, you’re hungry again an hour or two later.

What’s going on?

Hunger isn’t always simply a sign that you need more food. Your body uses several signals to decide when you need to eat and when you’ve had enough.

One important factor is blood sugar and insulin regulation.

When you eat, particularly a meal high in refined carbohydrates or added sugars, blood glucose can rise quickly. Your body responds by releasing insulin, which helps move glucose from the bloodstream into cells.

If this pattern happens frequently, or if your body is already struggling with insulin sensitivity, your blood sugar regulation can become less efficient. The result can be energy fluctuations, cravings and a feeling that you need to eat again soon.

But there is more to hunger than blood sugar.

Your meal also needs to provide enough protein, fibre and healthy fats to support satiety. Your gut, brain and hormones are constantly communicating about whether you have received enough nourishment.

And then there is sleep.

Poor sleep can affect the hormones and brain signals involved in hunger and fullness, making it easier to feel hungry and crave highly palatable foods the following day.

So, what should you look at?

Instead of simply asking, “How can I stop feeling hungry?”, ask:

“Is my body actually receiving what it needs to feel nourished and satisfied?”

Look at the quality and composition of your meals, your blood-sugar regulation, your sleep, your stress levels and your overall metabolic health.

Sometimes persistent hunger is not a discipline problem.

It may be information from your body.

Coach Ade’s Health Capsule: Understand the signal before you try to silence it.