Today, I found out that even when endlss supplies of salt, animal fat or sugar were put in front of animals, the ate exactly the amount they needed, nothing more and nothing less.

The zoologist said that all animals know how much they need in relation to the next time they will get fed and will regulate themselves as such.

How come we don't have this instinct? Or do we and we are simply overruling it with our consumerism?

We do. Try the exact same test with humans.

but why are people so obese etc?

Part of the problem is habit and societal influences--people get sold on junk food constantly.

Even rats, if their mothers ate junk food while breastfeeding, begin to develop a preference for it:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17697422&ordinalpos=7&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

I'm also not sure that what you said was true (I'd like a reference). It does seem that there is a inherent preference for sweet foods that exists in other species as well:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17668074&ordinalpos=10&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

And that once exposed to sugar animals develop a craving for it:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17617461&ordinalpos=18&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Today, I found out that even when endless supplies of salt, animal fat or sugar were put in front of animals, the ate exactly the amount they needed, nothing more and nothing less. The zoologist said that all animals know how much they need in relation to the next time they will get fed and will regulate themselves as such. How come we don't have this instinct? Or do we and we are simply overruling it with our consumerism?We've got better-tasting food. Much of our food is specifically designed to create desire, both the taste and the appearance.

Try putting endless supplies of simple basic foods in front of people and very few of them will overeat. On the other hand, repeat that experiment with the fox, the bear, the raccoon, or any of the omnivorous species. Only this time, instead of putting out endless supplies of salt, fat and sugar, put out an endless supply of doughnuts, pepperoni pizza, teriyaki cheeseburgers, or quesadillas with guacamole. You'll get some pretty obese critters in a few weeks.

Fat dogs and cats are as common as fat people.

There are fat horses. Pigs.

I've known people to kill pets - guinea pigs, goldfish - by overfeeding them.

but why are people so obese etc?

They don't excercise, choose the better foods or care about themselves.

The latter is people that have depression eat all the time to get rid of their

depression. Of course it doesn't work but they can't stop.

Its a matter of social evolution, and self control, or lack there of, that we are not "controlled by instincts" we have them, but they are not as strong as other animals.

Its a matter of social evolution, and self control, or lack there of, that we are not "controlled by instincts" we have them, but they are not as strong as other animals.As I have noted before, our uniquely massive forebrains give us the unique ability to override our instincts with reasoned and learned behavior. It's what allows us to transcend our pack-social instinct and live in cities. Not to mention creating music and all the rest of civilization. So we can't complain too loudly if it occasionally gets us in trouble.

Most of the fat people I know would rather be fat than have to eat the diet of our Mesolithic ancestors. :)

Well thats one way to put it.

...The zoologist said that all animals know how much they need in relation to the next time they will get fed and will regulate themselves as such....


??? as a child we had a black lab that got into its bag of Gravy Train and ate and ate and ate, and puked and puked and puked. And then ate the puke.
All animals?? I don't think so.

How come we don't have this instinct? Or do we and we are simply overruling it with our consumerism?

My best guess is that all of us who read this thread have exactly that same instinct .....and yet will ignore it when we want more of Mom's apple pie or the Christmas turkey.

And ya' know what, ....animals will do the same thing. That zoologist who put forth that theory didn't study very many animals. Many animals, wild and domesticated, will sometimes eat until they're bloated and sick.

Baron Max

Today, I found out that even when endlss supplies of salt, animal fat or sugar were put in front of animals, the ate exactly the amount they needed, nothing more and nothing less.

The zoologist said that all animals know how much they need in relation to the next time they will get fed and will regulate themselves as such.

WHICH animals? Because some have such instinct, and others do not. I had seen angelfish gorge themselves until they threw up, then they ate more.