Why does my stomach feel empty even though I ate?

Your body is brilliantly designed to give you signals for caring for it. Feeling thirsty, hungry, or sleepy is your body's way of telling you what it needs. However, sometimes these signals can go wrong, which can leave you asking "Why does my stomach feel empty even though I ate"? 

The Two Basic Reasons Why You Feel Hungry After Eating

If you are wondering why do I feel hungry after eating, there are two basic reasons. One reason is that your body genuinely needs more food. This can be caused by a fast metabolism, the composition of the meal, certain medical conditions, or a drop in blood sugar. 

The other possibility is that your hunger signal is incorrect. This can be caused by stress, anxiety, a lack of sleep, and certain medications.

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Why Your Body May Require More Food After Eating

When asking the question "why do I feel hungry after eating", the main cause is typically because you are still hungry. Let's take a look at some reasons why this can occur. 

Composition of Meals 

In many cases, it can be as simple as what you are eating. If your meals have a lot of carbohydrates and little protein, you may still feel hungry after eating. Your body doesn't necessarily need more food, but more of the right kind of food. 

Studies have shown that high protein meals will make you feel fuller for longer than meals high in carbohydrates. One of the reasons for this is that protein is better at stimulating the hormones that tell your body you are full, including peptide-1 (GLP-1), cholecystokinin (CCK), and peptide YY (PYY).

High carb low protein meals also cause your blood sugar to rise and then fall, which can also signal to your body it's time to eat again.

Lastly, diets low in fiber can cause this issue. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that takes longer to digest, making you feel fuller. It also stimulates appetite-suppressing hormones, and slows the rate of stomach emptying. 

What can you do? 

Eating meals higher in protein and fiber will help you feel fuller longer, and may prevent hunger pains after eating. 

Stretch Receptors

Why does my stomach feel empty even after I ate? It could be your stretch receptors. In addition to your body signaling that it's full due to the calories you take in, your body also has stretch receptors.  

These receptors are activated based on the volume of food in your stomach, regardless of the calories. Since it takes time for your body to break down food, stretch receptors activate to let you know when you've had enough to eat towards the end of your meal.

If you frequently feel like your stomach is empty immediately or shortly after eating, this could be the culprit.

What Can You Do? 

While managing calorie intake is important for some, it's equally essential to focus on balanced meals that include protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Incorporating fresh fruits, vegetables, and air-popped popcorn can be a great way to add volume and nutrients to your diet while pairing them with lean proteins and healthy fats for sustained energy and satisfaction.

Metabolism and Exercise 

The final reason why  your body may actually require more food is that you are burning a significant amount of calories. This can happen due to intense exercise. Have you ever had a hard workout or lots of physical exertion and then been very hungry? It's because your body needs more calories to replace what it burned. 

This can also occur if you have a high metabolism. People with a high metabolism burn calories much faster than those with slower metabolisms. If this is the case for you, you may find it hard to maintain weight, feel hungry often, and feel more hungry than the average person. If you are wondering why  you are hungry 2 hours after eating, this could be the culprit.

What Can You Do? 

If you feel hungry because you are burning lots of calories, try to focus on high calorie foods. Foods high in protein and fat are great options. Snacks are another way to combat hunger. Consider cashews, hummus, and avocados for a healthy calorie boost. 

Why Your Body May Incorrectly Signal for More Food

In addition to situations that cause you to need more calories, or a specific type of foods, there are several reasons why your body might be giving you the wrong signals. 

Incorrect Hunger Signals 

Incorrect hunger signals are another potential cause of feeling hungry after eating. Leptin resistance is a common issue, particularly in people with obesity. Leptin is a hormone that promotes a feeling of fullness in the brain. 

It's produced by fat cells, so the more fat cells you have, the higher the levels leptin should be.  However, with leptin resistance, the leptin isn't recognized by the brain, despite being plenty in the blood stream.  

Lifestyle Factors 

Lifestyle factors can also cause you to feel hungry after eating. Eating too fast is a common cause. When you eat quickly, your body doesn't have time to correctly signal that it's full, or may not recognize how much you've taken in, causing you to feel hungry after eating. 

If you don't get enough sleep, this can also be an issue.  The areas of the brain that control sleep and appetite are very closely linked. If you are lacking sleep, your body may attempt to compensate with food. 

Not eating enough throughout the day can be another issue. If your body doesn't get enough calories at breakfast and lunch, it may compensate by being very hungry at dinner time. 

What Can You Do? 

Addressing the issue is your best course of action. This may mean getting more sleep, eating slower, or eating balanced meals throughout the day. 

Stress

Stress is another factor. Studies have shown that 40% of people find they eat more when they are stressed. So, even though your body is getting enough food, you may still feel hungry. 

What Can You Do? 

If stress is causing you to feel hungry after eating, you should consider ways to reduce your stress levels. Meditation, yoga, and scheduling breaks throughout the day can all help manage your stress levels. 

Medical Conditions and Medications 

Diabetes is the most well known condition that can make you feel hungry after eating, but there are other issues that can cause it as well. While type 2 diabetes can cause you to feel hungry frequently, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, and type 1 diabetes can also cause your appetite to increase. 

Medical conditions include:

• Diabetes (type 1 and 2)
• Hypoglycemia 
• Hyperthyroidism
• Grave’s disease
• Major depressive disorder
• Anxiety disorders
• Eating disorders 

In addition to medical conditions, there are many medications that are known to increase your appetite. 

These include:

• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotics
• Mood stabilizers
• Beta blockers
• Corticosteriods
• Hormonal birth control
• Seizure medications
• Antihistamines

What Can You Do? 

If you think that medications or a medical condition are causing you to feel hungry after eating, you should address it with your doctor. There may be ways to manage the condition or similar medications without the side effect. 

Feeling Full and Hungry at the Same Time 

Feeling full and hungry at the same time is a similar issue to feeling hungry after eating, but it's slightly different. In this case, your stomach doesn't feel empty, but full, yet you're still hungry. 

This is called early satiety, which implies that you haven't consumed enough food even though your stomach feels full. 

Common causes include:

• Nausea
• Stress
• Constipation
• Gastroparesis

Nausea

Nausea can be caused by a range of gastrointestinal issues, including illnesses, pregnancy, and stress. When you feel nauseous, you may be hungry but unable to eat or only tolerate small amounts of food. 

Stress 

Stress can also be a culprit. Your gut is commonly known as the second brain, because the two systems are closely connected. This is why being upset emotionally can also trigger gut issues, including feeling hungry and full at the same time. 

Constipation 

Constipation is a common issue, affecting around 16% of adults in the U.S. Like any other system, when it gets backed up, you can experience a lack of room. So your body may be hungry because it needs food, but there's nowhere for it to go, so it stays in or near the stomach, causing you to feel full despite being hungry. 

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis occurs when the stomach muscles are partially paralyzed. This prevents food from moving from your stomach to your intestines in a timely manner, which causes your stomach to feel full even though you are hungry. 

This condition is often associated with long-term diabetes,  but it can also occur due to a nerve injury, medications, or gastric surgery complications. 

What You Can Do 

If you believe you have Gastroparesis, you'll need to start with tests from your doctor. However, there are lifestyle changes that can help to manage the condition. 

These include avoiding lying down after meals, eating smaller portions, and chewing your food well. 

Final thoughts on Feeling Hungry After Eating

If you are feeling hungry after eating, you'll need to start by determining the cause. Then, you can take steps to address the issue. It's important to know that this is a common issue, and there are ways to feel better.