What distinguishes the fundamental term appetite from simple physical need?

A complex, often psychological, drive to consume food

Appetite is fundamentally characterized as a more complex drive that often stems from psychological influences, contrasting sharply with simple physical need. While hunger is linked directly to physiological depletion, appetite can manifest even when the body does not require immediate caloric intake. It represents the *wanting* aspect of eating, driven by factors such as sensory perception, emotional states, or learned associations, rather than solely by the body's actual deficit in energy or nutrients. This complexity involves integration within the central nervous system, particularly the reward pathways, which dictate the desire for food independent of strict energy balance requirements.