Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology

External eating is the tendency to eat in response to external cues such as the sight, smell, or availability of food rather than internal feelings of hunger or fullness.

Fad diets are popular but often short-lived dietary trends or weight-loss plans that promote quick results. They usually focus on specific foods or eating patterns and may lack scientific support…

Dietary fats are an essential group of macronutrients that provide energy and support cell structure, hormone production, nutrient absorption, and other physiological functions. Fats include saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and trans fats, with different fatty acids having different biological roles.

Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a medical procedure in which processed stool from a rigorously screened, healthy donor is transferred into the gastrointestinal tract of a recipient — via colonoscopy,…

Fermentation is a metabolic process where microorganisms, such as bacteria, break down complex carbohydrates in the digestive system, producing various byproducts, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gases like carbon…

Fermented foods refer to foods and beverages that are produced as a result of the biochemical conversion of non-digestible carbohydrates (NDCs) by gut microbiota to produce the energy for bacterial…

The "fight or flight" response is a physiological reaction that prepares the body to confront a threat (fight) or escape from it (flight). It is triggered by the sympathetic nervous…

Fight-Flight-or-Freeze System or FFFS is one of the three systems regulating human behavior proposed by Gray’s reinforcement sensitivity theory. The functioning of the FFFS determines how prone a person is…

Food addiction describes eating patterns marked by intense cravings, compulsive consumption, and impaired control. The concept remains debated and overlaps with, but is not identical to, binge eating and other disordered-eating patterns.

Food affordability refers to the extent to which individuals or households can financially afford to purchase an adequate and nutritious diet within their budget constraints. It focuses specifically on whether…