Aren't all people born with sensations of hunger? Aren't such sensations a necessary part of human survival? Of course. Letting a person know he is hungry is the job of the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that monitors glucose levels in the blood.

Glucose is a form of sugar, and changes in blood levels of glucose regulate your feelings of hunger.

Food is certainly about more than just fulfilling the hunger urge. Vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, and other nutrients in the proper proportions are necessary for optimal functioning of your body. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has devised a food pyramid as a handy guideline to healthy eating. The food pyramid helps you determine the appropriate amounts of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, proteins, and carbohydrates necessary for optimal health.

When the amount of food you eat exceeds these guidelines by large amounts (or barely meets these guidelines) it's a sign that you are using food for more than just nutrition for your body.

While it is still a topic for debate, more and more evidence suggests that foods can be addictive. Similar behaviors noted between overeating and substance abuse include compulsive use in spite of negative consequences, cravings, denial, obsessive thoughts about the substance, increased usage as time goes on, guilt with excessive use, and relapse.