“Hor opened all the doors of the house to look for something to eat.” The story of Rossella Erraguest a The good time on Rai 1, is striking because it describes a very common but often underestimated sensation: the sudden attack of hungeralmost uncontrollable. It’s not just “wanting something”. It’s a response of the body – and mind – that can become more intense when faced drastic or restrictive dietsespecially if not followed by a specialist. But what really happens when hunger seems to take over? And above all, what the latest scientific research says about how to manage it without making the situation worse? Understanding this is the first step to finding more effective and sustainable strategies over time.
It’s not just a matter of willpower
When talking about hunger, the risk is to simplify: just resist. In reality, the mechanism is much more complex.
The body regulates appetite through hormones such as ghrelin (which stimulates hunger) and satiety signals such as PYY And GLP-1. When you lose weight, especially with significant calorie restriction, this balance can change. The result is that the body can increase hunger signalsmaking it more difficult to maintain the diet over time.
A recent meta-analysis published in 2025 onInternational Journal of Obesity analyzed over 100 studies, highlighting that after weight loss an increase in total ghrelin And changes in satiety hormonesfactors that can favor the return of hunger.
Because drastic diets increase hunger pangs
The testimony of Rossella Erra It explains well what can happen when you face significant weight loss. Skipping meals, eliminating entire food groups or reducing calories too much can trigger a defense response in the body. It can increase the feeling of hunger, slow down the metabolism and increase the desire for more caloric foods. It is no coincidence that hunger pangs appear precisely in moments of greatest restriction.
What happens during a hunger attack
Anyone who has tried it knows: it’s not a simple desire. The hunger attack is often characterized by sensations of urgency to eat, difficulty stopping and searching for specific foods. It can become an almost automatic response, as emerges from Rossella Erra’s story: one impulsive research that arises from a real need of the body.
How to really manage them (without making them worse)
The solution is not to eliminate hunger, but to learn to manage it.
As also suggested by nutritionist Giorgio Calabrese, in an article about Il Fatto Quotidiano, it can be useful always have simple and satiating foods available, such as fennel, carrots or tomatoes: foods that encourage chewing and help reduce the intensity of the attack. Alongside this, some strategies really work:
- don’t skip meals
- insert proteins and fibers
- maintain regular hours
- drink enough.
These are simple measures, but essential for stabilizing your appetite during the day.
Rossella Erra at Dancing with the Stars, Rome. (Photo by Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images).
The most important point: nothing DIY
When it is necessary to lose weight, especially significantly as in the case told by Rossella Erra, doing it yourself can be risky. Drastic diets not only increase hunger pangs, but can create nutritional imbalances and make the relationship with food more complex. That’s why they have to be always indicated and followed by a specialistwhich can build a sustainable and person-friendly path.