Appetite

The appetite is the desire to eat food, felt as hunger. Appetite exists in all higher lifeforms, and serves to regulate adequate energy intake to maintain metabolic needs. It is regulated by a close interplay between the digestive tract, adipose tissue and the brain. Decreased desire to eat is termed anorexia, while polyphagia (or "hyperphagia") is increased eating. Dysregulation of appetite contributes to anorexia nervosa and cachexia on one side, and obesity on the other side of the spectrum.

Related Topics:
Desire - Eat - Food - Hunger - Metabolic - Digestive tract - Adipose tissue - Brain - Anorexia - Polyphagia - Anorexia nervosa - Cachexia - Obesity

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