Which statement best describes external eating cues?

• A. They originate in the body to signal energy needs.
• B. They originate outside the body and include stimuli like smells, sights, presence of others.
• C. They only affect eating when you are sleep-deprived.
• D. They are not influenced by marketing or social context.

Answer: (B)

External eating cues are environmental signals outside the body that can prompt eating, such as the smell of food, the sight of a bakery display, the presence of other people eating, or promotional marketing. These cues originate outside us and can influence our eating behavior even when we aren’t physically hungry, because they tap into learned associations and social norms around food. This contrasts with internal cues, which arise from inside the body to signal energy needs or fullness. The other statements don’t fit because external cues are not limited to sleep deprivation, and they are indeed shaped by marketing and social context.