External eating is the tendency to eat in response to external cues such as the sight, smell, or availability of food rather than internal feelings of hunger or fullness.
Author and reviewer
Editorial responsibilityHow to cite this entry
The Center for Nutritional Psychology. (2025). External eating. In Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology. The Center for Nutritional Psychology.
https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/encyclopedia/external-eating/Know a term that belongs in the Encyclopedia?
Share a nutritional psychology term with the CNP editorial team for consideration. Relevant submissions may be reviewed for future development and publication in the Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology.
