Research paper
Cummings DE, Frayo RS, Marmonier C, Aubert R, Chapelot D. Plasma ghrelin levels and hunger scores in humans initiating meals voluntarily without time- and food-related cues. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Aug;287(2):E297-304. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00582.2003
Why we cite it
Finds that ghrelin rose before voluntarily initiated meals with time and food cues removed. The authors conclude this is ”consistent with a role for ghrelin in meal initiation”, which counts against a purely anticipatory reading (corrected 2026-09-19 from ”Demonstrates … supporting ghrelin as an endogenous hunger signal rather than merely a conditioned anticipatory response”). The 5-minute sampling resolution and cue-free design are what make it useful for the physiological basis of hunger waves. Six subjects, all male, aged 19–25, BMI 19–25 — recovered from the held PDF 2026-09-02 and recorded here for the first time. Non-smokers, non-athletes, no more than occasional drinkers, no personal or family history of obesity, eating disorders or metabolic disease, and low dietary-restraint scores on the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire. A narrow, healthy, young male sample.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00582.2003 · PubMed 15039149 · Publisher