Loneliness Of Social Distancing During COVID-19 Crisis Might Trigger Craving Similar To Hunger

CHICAGO (CBS) -- If you feel hungrier than usual during the COVID-19 pandemic you're not alone; well, actually you are, and that's the problem.

Scientists say loneliness and isolation trigger similar signals in the brain, so you might not be hungry for food, you're actually craving human contact.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology say it's the first study to link loneliness with hunger.

They say the study shows that human connection is as fundamental as our need to eat.