Eating behaviour: investigation on the recursive components of hunger sensation by iterative rhythmometry.

The periodic components of hunger have been investigated in the spectrum of ultradian and circadian rhythms by means of iterative rhythmometry analysis, a method for resolving harmonic components in time series data. The cyclical scanning has been applied in human subjects with eating disorders associated with leanness, ponderosity and obesity. The sensation of hunger was rhythmometrically resolved into ultradian and circadian components which are peculiar for the group investigated. Harmonic modelling can be used on an individualized basis for group-specific configurations and, on that basis, for unphysiologic patterns. A comparison with the rhythmometric model of healthy subjects may have a practical use in identifying and manipulating behavioural disorders in the propensity to eat.