Managing food intake is critical for survival. Either too little food or too much food can seriously impair well-being. As most animals, including humans, regulate their energy needs by consuming food in distinct bouts or meals, it is important to understand the mechanisms controlling meal-taking behavior. Appetite, defined as the desire to consume foods, promotes meal intake, while satiety, defined as a feeling of fullness resulting from having consumed sufficient food, typically leads to the cessation of a meal. As described in this entry, appetite and satiety are governed by both internal physiological signals and external environmental cues.

Physiological Mechanisms Mediating Appetite and Satiety

The physiological factors governing appetite and satiety are numerous and include signals generated in the gastrointestinal system, blood, and central nervous system. These ...

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