ABSTRACT
Homeostasis refers to a stable internal physiological environment. Negative feedback systems motivate the body toward homeostasis for energy balance, temperature, and fluids. Energy homeostasis results from a balance between energy input minus energy output from basal metabolism, thermic effect, and behavior. Alliesthesia is a change in a person’s internal environment that makes behaviors restoring homeostasis pleasurable and behaviors that disrupt it as painful. Hunger motivates eating but so does the palatability of food. We innately prefer sweets and fats. We also prefer food because of familiarity and its ability to restore energy. Dieting refers to cognitively restraining the start and stop of eating. Stress releases diet restraint, which can lead to over eating. Anorexia nervosa develops from restricted energy intake, fear of getting fat, and an emaciated appearance.
