Appetite

**Appetite and Health Conditions:**
– Limited or excessive appetite may lead to malnutrition and obesity-related issues.
– Poor appetite (anorexia) can be caused by physical or psychological factors.
– Hyperphagia (excessive eating) may result from hormonal imbalances or mental disorders.
– Taste and smell abnormalities can impact appetite.
– Anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, bulimia, and body dysmorphic disorder are common eating disorders.
– Genetic and environmental factors influence appetite regulation.
– Appetite changes are associated with mental health conditions and certain medications.

**Obesity and Appetite Regulation:**
– Hereditary forms of obesity can be linked to hypothalamic signaling defects.
– Ghrelin-reactive IgG immunoglobulins affect ghrelin’s orexigenic response.
– Hormones like ghrelin and leptin regulate hunger and satisfaction.
– Changes in leptin production levels can lead to obesity.
– Insatiable appetite can result from dysregulation of ghrelin and leptin.
– Obesity is considered a disorder of appetite.

**Pediatric Eating Issues:**
– Picky eating affects around 25% of children.
– Children with developmental disorders may have higher rates of eating issues.
– Sensory processing disorder can contribute to eating problems in children.

**Pharmacology and Appetite Treatment:**
– The glycemic index can impact satiety levels.
– Appetite control mechanisms are targeted for weight loss drugs.
– Various medications are approved for appetite stimulation or suppression.
– Ghrelin is being investigated for its role in appetite regulation.
– Research is ongoing on substances that can stimulate ghrelin and appetite.
– Appetite stimulants are reviewed as agents for treatment.

**Genetics and Appetite Modulation:**
– Weight control and appetite are viewed from a genetic perspective.
– Genetic factors influence appetite regulation.
– Research on genetic predispositions to appetite disorders is ongoing.
– Appetite modulation is affected by genetic variations.
– Genetic studies on appetite-related disorders are ongoing.

Appetite (Wikipedia)

For other uses, see Appetite (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with apatite or hunger.

Appetite is the desire to eat food items, usually due to hunger. Appealing foods can stimulate appetite even when hunger is absent, although appetite can be greatly reduced by satiety. Appetite exists in all higher life-forms, 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. Appetite has a relationship with every individual's behavior. Appetitive behaviour also known as approach behaviour, and consummatory behaviour, are the only processes that involve energy intake, whereas all other behaviours affect the release of energy. When stressed, appetite levels may increase and result in an increase of food intake. Decreased desire to eat is termed anorexia, while polyphagia (or "hyperphagia") is increased eating. Dysregulation of appetite contributes to anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, cachexia, overeating, and binge eating disorder.