Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

Like most people, you may not know that there is a difference between appetite and hunger. But there is. When we eat food, it may be because we're hungry - or because we need to satisfy our appetites.

To clarify the difference, hunger is a physical sensation, a need to eat. If you can remember a time that you were too busy to eat and skipped a meal, you probably experienced the gnawing, stomach-growling feeling that alerted you to find food - fast.

Appetite, on the other hand, is governed by many factors other than physical need. When you're frustrated, angry or sad, and a bowl of ice cream sounds soothing, it's your appetite speaking. The same goes for that bowl of jellybeans sitting on the counter that seems to be calling to you.

You can stay in charge of your eating by recognizing the difference between appetite and hunger, and listening to your hunger signals. Many nutritionists use the "hunger scale" to help their clients learn more about when they should eat and when they should stop eating. The scale is as follows:

1. Extremely hungry, gnawing hunger pangs
2. Very hungry
3. Stomach growling, beginning to feel hungry
4. Mildly hungry
5. Not very hungry but not full
6. Satisfied and comfortable
7. Beginning to feel full
8. Starting to feel very full
9. Uncomfortably full, stomach ache from food
10. Painfully full, need to lie down

When using the hunger scale, ask yourself how you feel each time you want to eat something. If your hunger is a "4" or higher, try to find something else to do. Have a drink of water; sometimes the perception of mild hunger is actually thirst. Wait until your hunger is a "3" or lower to eat.

While eating, consider your hunger signals, too. Try to stay between a 3 and 6 on the hunger scale, and you'll avoid consuming more food than you need.