Appetite is the natural desire to eat, or a strong desire for something else, like power or adventure.
From Latin "appetitus" meaning "a desire toward," from "appetere" (to seek after, to strive for). It originally referred to any strong desire, not just hunger.
We now link appetite mainly with food, but the older sense shows up when we say “an appetite for risk.” Your brain uses the same deep machinery for craving snacks and craving life experiences.
Cultural narratives have often framed appetite—especially for food—as something women should restrain and men can indulge, contributing to disordered eating and body image pressures. Similar double standards apply to sexual and professional "appetite" or ambition.
Use "appetite" neutrally across genders and avoid praising or shaming people for having or lacking appetite, especially in contexts of food and sexuality. Be sensitive to the connection between appetite language and eating disorders or consent.
["desire","interest","hunger","demand"]
When discussing appetite and eating, recognize the work of women and gender-diverse activists and researchers who have challenged harmful body and diet norms.
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