What are food cravings called? Common names and scientific terms

December 24, 2025 •

4 min read

According to research published by the National Institutes of Health, food cravings are experienced by more than 90% of the population at some point. The urge to eat a specific item can be an intense, complex experience, driven by a combination of psychological, environmental, and biological factors rather than simple hunger.

Quick Summary

An intense, specific desire for food is generally known as a food craving, but it can also be called selective hunger. In medical contexts, polyphagia describes extreme hunger, while pica refers to the craving of non-food items. The origins of these urges can be psychological, emotional, or physiological, influencing how we name and categorize them.

Key Points

Food Craving: An intense, specific desire for a particular food, often high in fat, sugar, or salt.
Selective Hunger: A term used interchangeably with food craving, emphasizing the specific nature of the desire.
Polyphagia (or Hyperphagia): A medical term for extreme and insatiable hunger, often a symptom of an underlying health issue like diabetes.
Pica: A dangerous mental health condition characterized by the compulsive eating of non-food items, such as dirt or clay.
Emotional Eating: The act of craving food due to psychological triggers like stress or boredom, rather than physical hunger.
Dopamine Release: Craving is linked to the brain's reward system, where eating craved food releases dopamine, creating a feeling of pleasure.
Conditioning: Habits and environmental cues can trigger cravings through association, even in the absence of true hunger.

What is a food craving and how does it differ from hunger?

A food craving is a powerful, specific urge to consume a particular food, while hunger is a more generalized need for calories and nutrients. Hunger can be satisfied by almost any food, but a craving often focuses on one specific item, like a bag of potato chips or a specific type of chocolate. This distinction is key to understanding the various names and scientific classifications for these desires.

The psychological and physiological basis of food cravings

Unlike physical hunger, which is regulated by hormones like ghrelin and leptin, cravings are deeply tied to the brain's reward system. Eating craved foods triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that creates a sense of pleasure and reinforces the behavior. This psychological loop can be influenced by many factors:

Emotional triggers: Stress, boredom, and anxiety can lead to emotional eating, where food is used as a coping mechanism. The brain seeks comfort in the pleasurable feelings associated with high-fat, high-sugar foods.
Conditioning: Environmental cues, such as the smell of a bakery or seeing a food advertisement, can trigger a conditioned response that leads to a craving. The brain creates associations between specific contexts and the rewarding experience of eating, prompting the desire even without genuine hunger.
Hormonal shifts: Fluctuations in hormones, especially during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, can intensify cravings. This is not simply a need for specific nutrients but a complex physiological change that affects mood and appetite.

Scientific and medical terminology for different types of cravings

While "food craving" is the common term, different medical and scientific fields have more specific names for different forms of intense desire for food or other substances.

Selective Hunger: This is often used interchangeably with the term food craving, as it refers to the intense desire for a specific food rather than just a general need to eat. The name highlights the distinction from a non-selective, general hunger for any food source.
Chocoholism: A colloquial but widely understood term, this refers to the specific, and very common, craving for chocolate. While not a formal medical diagnosis, it acknowledges the powerful and often overwhelming nature of this particular type of food craving.
Polyphagia (or Hyperphagia): This is the medical term for extreme, insatiable hunger that does not subside after eating and is often a symptom of an underlying health condition like diabetes or a thyroid disorder. Unlike a typical craving, it is not specific to a single food but is an intense, generalized desire to consume food.
Pica: This is a distinct mental health condition and an eating disorder characterized by the compulsive eating of non-food items, such as dirt, clay, or ice. Pica is a serious condition that can have hazardous health consequences and requires medical attention. It is not a food craving, but a specific, non-nutritive craving that is medically classified.

Comparing different types of cravings


Feature	Selective Hunger (Typical Food Craving)	Polyphagia	Pica
Focus	Specific food (e.g., chocolate, chips)	General, extreme hunger for any food	Non-food items (e.g., dirt, clay)
Primary Cause	Psychological, emotional, environmental conditioning	Hormonal imbalances, medical conditions (e.g., diabetes)	Nutritional deficiencies, mental health issues
Level of Urgency	Intense desire for a specific item, may come on suddenly	Insatiable and persistent hunger, a constant feeling	Compulsive, often surreptitious, swallowing
Satisfaction	Only fulfilled by consuming the specific craved item	Unlikely to be satisfied by eating	A specific, non-nutritive behavior

Managing and understanding the root cause

Addressing the underlying cause of a craving is often more effective than simply trying to use willpower. A holistic approach can help you manage cravings more successfully.

Here are some strategies:

Mindful Eating: Pay close attention to what, when, and why you eat. This can help distinguish between physical hunger and a psychological craving. Being present with your food can also increase satisfaction, reducing the urge to overindulge.
Stress Management: High stress levels increase cortisol, which can trigger cravings for high-fat and high-sugar foods. Techniques like meditation, exercise, and deep breathing can help reduce stress and minimize these cravings.
Balanced Diet: Eating regular, balanced meals with adequate protein, fiber, and healthy fats can help stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent the intense hunger that can trigger cravings for quick-fix junk food.
Sleep: Lack of sleep disrupts appetite-regulating hormones, increasing ghrelin (hunger hormone) and decreasing leptin (satiety hormone). Aiming for 7–9 hours of sleep per night can help balance these hormones and reduce cravings.
Professional Guidance: For persistent or extreme cravings, seeking help from a healthcare provider or dietitian can be beneficial. In cases of polyphagia or pica, medical treatment is necessary to address the underlying condition.

Conclusion: The complexity of a simple urge

From the common experience of a "sweet tooth" to the specific medical terms of polyphagia and pica, the urge to eat is a complex interplay of biology, psychology, and environment. While the simple term "craving" works for everyday conversation, understanding the different names and underlying causes can provide a deeper insight into our eating behaviors. Whether you're dealing with a mild hankering or a persistent issue, distinguishing between types of cravings allows for a more targeted and effective approach to managing your health. By listening to your body and addressing the root cause, you can gain greater control over these powerful urges.

Frequently Asked Questions

The scientific or medical term for an insatiable appetite is polyphagia or hyperphagia. This is often a symptom of underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism, rather than a typical food craving.

The compulsive eating of non-food items, like dirt, clay, or hair, is called pica. It is a recognized mental health condition and can be dangerous, requiring medical investigation and treatment.

Hunger is a general physiological need for fuel, which can be satisfied by any food. A craving is an intense desire for a specific food, often driven by psychological or emotional factors rather than a need for energy.

While it's a popular belief, there is limited evidence to support a direct link between most food cravings and a specific nutritional deficiency. Most cravings are driven by psychological and emotional factors, though some extreme, non-food cravings like pica can be linked to iron or zinc deficiencies.

Emotional eating is using food, often high in sugar and fat, to cope with negative emotions like stress, boredom, or sadness. It is a psychological response that triggers cravings for comfort foods.

Pregnancy cravings are common and likely caused by a combination of hormonal fluctuations, changes in the senses, and psychological factors. While hormonal changes are often a factor, research indicates a simple nutritional deficit is rarely the cause.

'Chocoholism' is a colloquial term for an intense craving for chocolate. It reflects the powerful and specific nature of this craving, which, like other cravings, is associated with the brain's reward system.