External eating cues are signals that come from outside the body and promote eating. Which option best captures this concept?

• A. They originate from internal energy needs.
• B. They originate from hormonal fluctuations.
• C. They originate from personal preferences.
• D. They originate from external environmental stimuli such as smells and the sight of food.

Answer: (D)

External eating cues come from the surrounding environment and can trigger eating even when energy needs aren’t felt. The best choice points to external environmental stimuli like smells and the sight of food, which directly illustrate how cues outside the body promote eating. Internal energy needs, shown by hunger signals from inside the body, hormonal fluctuations, or personal preferences, describe internal or subjective factors and do not capture the external nature of these cues.