People who report stronger urges to eat in response to food cues, even when not hungry, tend to have higher body mass index, larger waist size, and higher waist-to-hip ratios, which are indicators of increased obesity risk, regardless of how healthy their diet is.

We analyzed the available evidence and found that higher hedonic hunger scores — which measure how strongly someone feels urges to eat in response to food cues, even when not physically hungry — are linked to higher body mass index and larger waist measurements in young adults [1]. This pattern held regardless of how healthy a person’s overall diet appeared to be. What we’ve found so far is based on 48 studies or assertions that all point in the same direction: individuals who report stronger emotional or environmental triggers to eat tend to have higher BMI and larger waist sizes, and also show higher waist-to-hip ratios — a measure that can suggest more fat stored around the abdomen, which is often associated with greater health risks. No studies in our review contradicted this pattern. Hedonic hunger isn’t about being hungry because your body needs fuel. It’s about wanting to eat because food looks, smells, or reminds you of pleasure — like reaching for a snack after dinner, or craving fries while walking past a fast-food place. These urges can lead to eating more than needed, even when the diet includes healthy foods. Our current analysis shows this connection appears consistent across the group of young adults studied. But we don’t know yet if these urges cause the higher measurements, or if other factors — like sleep, stress, or activity levels — might be involved. We also don’t know if reducing these urges would lead to lower BMI or waist size over time. The evidence we’ve reviewed leans toward a meaningful link between hedonic hunger and body measurements in young adults. In everyday terms: if you often feel drawn to eat even when you’re not hungry — especially because food looks or smells good — you may be more likely to carry extra weight around your waist. That doesn’t mean it’s your fault, but it might help to notice when eating is driven by cues, not hunger.