The Hunger Hormone: What Is Ghrelin and Why Should We Care?

Have you ever felt absolutely ravenous, even when you thought you’d eaten enough? Or found yourself eating for comfort, unsure whether it was true hunger or something deeper? That might be ghrelin at play – a clever little hormone with a big influence on our relationship with food and, surprisingly, our emotional wellbeing.

Ghrelin (pronounced GRELL-in) is known as “the hunger hormone”. It’s made mainly in the stomach and sends signals to your brain when it’s time to eat. But ghrelin doesn’t just influence appetite – it also plays a role in sleep, stress, mood, and even addiction. Yes, really!

So, what’s this got to do with the Families Out Loud community?

If you’re living with the fallout of a loved one’s drug or alcohol use, stress is often part and parcel of everyday life. That kind of emotional toll can throw your body out of balance – affecting how you sleep, how much you eat, and what you crave. Ghrelin levels tend to rise during periods of poor sleep or high stress, nudging us toward comfort food or snacks high in sugar and fat.

Here’s something especially interesting: recent research suggests that ghrelin may affect women more strongly than men. In studies, women reported feeling hungrier and more emotionally driven to eat after ghrelin was increased – even when they knew they weren’t physically hungry. This might help explain why so many women, especially those under chronic stress, find themselves battling cravings or emotional eating. It’s not just in your head – it’s in your hormones.

There’s also emerging evidence linking ghrelin to the brain’s reward system – the same system affected by drugs and alcohol. That means ghrelin might not just influence how we eat, but also how we respond to addiction and the behaviours around it. It’s a reminder that biology and mental health are deeply connected.

At Families Out Loud, we believe in compassion over judgement. If your eating patterns have changed, or if you’re finding it hard to care for yourself while supporting someone else, please know you’re not alone. Your body is doing its best to cope with stress – and sometimes, it needs a little kindness and understanding.

Let’s keep talking about these things – no stigma, no shame, just support and shared wisdom.