Appetite is best described as:

Appetite is primarily understood as an external drive to consume food, influenced by various factors such as sensory stimuli (sight, smell, and taste), emotional states, and social situations. This concept differs from hunger, which is more of an internal signal that indicates the body's physiological need for nutrients. While hunger can trigger the desire to eat, appetite encompasses the motivational aspects of wanting to eat, often irrespective of actual physiological needs.

For example, the aroma of freshly baked bread or a cake can stimulate appetite even when a person is not physiologically hungry, driving them to eat based on external cues rather than internal signals. Additionally, psychological factors, such as stress or social occasions, can elicit appetite, making people more inclined to eat based on emotional or situational triggers rather than hunger. Understanding appetite's multifaceted nature is crucial in addressing eating behaviors and dietary choices.