appetite

Appetite is the desire to eat food, sometimes due to hunger. Appealing foods can stimulate appetite even when hunger is absent, although appetite can be greatly reduced by satiety [饱].

Appetite exists in all higher life-forms, and serves to regulate adequate energy intake to maintain metabolic [新陈代谢的] needs. When stressed, appetite levels may increase and result in an increase of food intake.

A limited or excessive appetite is not necessarily pathological [有病的]. Abnormal appetite could be defined as eating habits causing malnutrition [营养不良] and related conditions such as obesity [过度肥胖] and its related problems.

Eating issues such as "picky eating" affects about 25% of children, but among children with development disorders this number may be significantly higher, which in some cases may be related to the sounds, smells, and tastes.

Weight loss or loss of appetite is an effect of some diseases, and a side effect of some prescription [处方] drugs.

appetite的词源是: look for, try to get

If sb/sth whets your appetite for sth, it increases your desire for it. whet: 磨(刀等)