What is the difference between hunger and appetite?

The distinction between hunger and appetite is foundational in understanding eating behaviors and the physiological and psychological factors that drive them. Hunger refers to the physical sensation that arises when the body needs food, characterized by physiological signals such as stomach growling, dizziness, or feeling weak. These signals initiate the drive to find and consume food to restore energy levels and maintain bodily functions.

In contrast, appetite is more about the psychological aspect of eating. It encompasses the desire to eat based on factors such as food availability, social interactions, emotional states, or even learned associations with certain foods, which may not necessarily relate to the body's immediate energy needs. Appetite can be influenced by external cues like the sight or smell of food, memories associated with certain meals, and emotional states, and it may prompt individuals to eat even when they are not physically hungry.

Understanding this difference helps clarify why someone might eat due to appetite (such as seeing a delicious dessert) while not being physiologically hungry, which emphasizes the complex interplay between physical and psychological factors in our eating behaviors.