Why being lonely makes you eat more

Putting on weight could be a hidden side-effect of loneliness, research suggests.

Women who feel chronically isolated are hungrier and find a big meal less satisfying, a study found, the Daily Mail reports.

The US researchers says this could be the body’s way of telling them to seek out company as eating has been a sociable activity throughout human evolution.

The Ohio State University psychologists asked 42 women to fast overnight, then gave them a large breakfast.

The women rated their hunger before and after their meal and blood samples revealed their levels of ghrelin, the ‘hunger hormone.’

They had also answered a loneliness questionnaire, which included questions on how often they felt lonely when alone and whether other people thought of them as lonely.

As expected, levels of ghrelin fell after eating and then started to rise.

However, the rise was much quicker in the lonely women and they made much more of the hormone.

They also said they felt hungrier. Writing in the journal Hormones and Behavior, the researchers said being extra-hungry could be nature’s way of making us seek out company.

They said: ‘The need for social connection is fundamental to human nature. Consequently, people may feel hungrier when they feel socially disconnected.’

Interestingly, loneliness only made thin women hungrier. It had no effect on the appetite of those who were overweight.

It isn't clear why this is but it is possible the stigma associated with being fat makes socialising less valuable for them.

Other studies suggest you should choose your company carefully at mealtimes.

It has been shown that we tend to mimic our dining companion’s eating habits, taking mouthfuls at roughly the same time and eating more when their companion does.

The scientists behind the latest study say the link with appetite could help explain the range of devastating effects loneliness can have on health.

Previous research has shown being cut off from friends and family can raise blood pressure, stress and the risk of depression, as well as weakening the immune system and a person's resistance to disease.

Feeling alone and unloved can make it harder to get to sleep and even speed the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Overall, loneliness is as damaging smoking or not exercising.