1. a hypothetical mechanism in the brain that regulates appetite and food intake
Usage: medical; scientific

Examples

• Scientists believe the appestat helps maintain body weight by controlling hunger signals.
• Damage to the appestat can lead to overeating or loss of appetite.
• The appestat theory explains how the brain monitors energy balance.
• Researchers study the appestat to understand eating disorders.
• The hypothalamus contains structures that function as an appestat.