Why some people can't stop snacking despite gaining weight.
What the evidence says
- ~47% of obese/overweight individuals experience subclinical blood sugar dips after eating[1]
- People with these dips snack 6x more frequently (0.9 vs 0.15 times/day)[1]
- Creates vicious cycle: snacking → spike → insulin surge → dip → hunger → more snacking[1]
- Not a willpower issue — physiological driver of snacking behavior[1]
- Among snackers with subclinical reactive hypoglycemia: 46% obese vs 0% without it[1]
- Dips are subtle enough not to feel like hypoglycemia, but significant enough to trigger hunger[1]