Why can appetite persist even when a person is physically full?
Answer
Because it is driven by pleasure or positive associations with specific palatable food
Appetite, being distinct from physiological hunger, can easily override the sensation of satiety because it is rooted in hedonic motivations and external learning. If a food item is highly palatable—possessing appealing texture contrast, specific taste, or strong positive memory association—the desire for it (appetite) remains active even after energy needs have been met and the stomach is physically full. This drive leverages the brain's reward pathways, which are separate from the homeostatic feedback loops that register fullness and signal the cessation of true hunger.
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