Human beings have several factors and elements that go inside their bodies. These desires and emotions are of several types and can occur at different times. Human beings feel these desires and do the necessary things to complete them. Right from the onset of a human being’s existence, these emotions and desires are either completed by their guardians or by themselves when they grow up. These several desires include hunger, thirst, sleep, family, status, social contact, independence, and many more. These things might seem like sometimes because they have other things similar to them, but they do have some differences. Two of those desires are 1. Hunger and 2. Appetite.
Hunger vs Appetite
The main difference between hunger and appetite is the source of where they come from or the location from where these responses occur. Hunger is a response from the human body. On the other hand, appetite is a response from the human brain.
The sensation that is also a response from the human body that entails us to eat is known as hunger. Whenever a human being’s stomach is empty, the body tells us to eat and gives us hunger pangs. Depending on the appetite of the respective human being, food is consumed, and hunger is satisfied.
The desire for food that is also a response from the human brain is known as appetite. Appetite can occur even if a human body is satisfied and has consumed enough food. It occurs even by seeing a food dish or by listening to somebody talking about food in general.
Comparison Table Between Hunger and Appetite
| Parameters of Comparison | Hunger | Appetite |
| Meaning/ Definition | The sensation that is also a response from the human body that entails us to eat is known as hunger. | The desire for food that is also a response from the human brain is known as appetite. |
| Type of | Sensation | Desire, craving, wish, feeling |
| Occurs from | Human body | Human brain |
| Occurrence | A person feels hungry whenever his or her stomach is empty or if a person has not eaten anything in a while. | A person’s appetite can make a person like eating something even if a person is full and it can occur anytime. |
| Result of | Internal cues | External cues |
What is Hunger?
The sensation that is also a response from the human body that entails us to eat is known as hunger. It is a response from the human body, and it is a need to eat something in order to sustain existence. People depending on their dietary schedule, eat various types of foodstuff and satisfy their hunger.
Whenever a human being’s stomach is empty, the body tells us to eat and gives us hunger pangs. Depending on the appetite of the respective human being, food is consumed, and hunger is satisfied. People often confuse hunger with their appetite, but these are two separate things and do have their differences. Various parameters make them different from each other.
Many people try to harm themselves by not eating enough food and staying hungry for a longer time, and things like these often lead to problematic situations in the human body. Sometimes people try to eat more than the required amount, and this too leads to problematic situations. The physical and mental effects of these things are immense, and they grow more in a wrong manner if not treated properly.
There are several disorders associated with a person’s dietary schedule. For instance, if a person lacks the desire to eat food or ignore hunger or try to eat less for any possible reason, then that person may be suffering from anorexia. Alike that, there are other problems and disorders too that occur in human beings. Depending on the gravity and type of these issues, proper aid is suggested, and treatment is given.
What is Appetite?
The desire for food that is also a response from the human brain is known as appetite. It is a signal from the human brain, and it is a sensation, craving, or a feeling of eating something, and it may occur at any instance of time to a human being.
Appetite can occur even if a human body is satisfied and has consumed enough food. It occurs even by seeing a food dish or by listening to somebody talking about food in general. People often confuse appetite with their hunger, but these are two separate things and have their differences. There are several parameters that differentiate these two terminologies.
People must understand the importance of a balanced diet and also the importance of eating only the food that is harmless for their body and knowing to eat it in proportion. Overeating or lack of a balanced diet often leads to disorders in the human body, and these disorders lead to some physical and mental changes in a person’s life.
One must try to satisfy their hunger by eating the right amount and right quality of food and must take the necessary precautions to avoid disorders from being introduced to their bodies. If a person wants to live a healthy and happy life, then he or she must take care of their appetite by eating healthy and right.
Main Differences Between Hunger and Appetite
- Hunger is a need to eat something. On the other hand, appetite is a wish, craving, or sensation to eat something.
- Hunger cues arise from the human body once the human stomach is empty. On the other hand, appetite cues arise from the human brain, and it occurs either when the stomach is empty or when the stomach is not empty.
- A person can feel hungry only when his or her stomach is empty. On the other hand, appetite cravings can occur at any instance of time.
- Hunger is a result of internal cues and signals. On the other hand, appetite is a result of external cues and signals.
- The sensation that is also a response from the human body that entails us to eat is known as hunger. On the other hand, the desire for food that is also a response from the human brain is known as appetite.
Conclusion
In order to live a physically and mentally healthy, happy, and fit life, a person must incorporate a balanced diet in his or her dietary schedule. A balanced diet plays an important role, and if it is consumed rightly, it has several benefits to the human body.
Along with a balanced diet, one must also make sure that he or she takes other necessary steps like exercise, staying away from addictions, etc. These small things have the ability to make a huge difference to a person’s life if they are done right.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597898928035
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/acute-effects-on-metabolism-and-appetite-profile-of-one-meal-difference-in-the-lower-range-of-meal-frequency/4AE8C3FC32CE7E456B9606F1AF963E76