How Detecting Hunger Shapes Our Mood: The Science Behind Hangry

A month-long study with 90 healthy adults using continuous glucose monitors and smartphone mood checks found that mood worsens primarily when people perceive hunger, not simply when blood sugar drops. Those with higher interoceptive accuracy—better awareness of internal bodily states—showed fewer mood swings. Hunger signals involve the hypothalamus and insula, and improving interoception through attention to body cues and exercise may help stabilize moods and prevent impulsive eating. The piece, republished from The Conversation, also notes the everyday relevance for parents managing kids' meals.