Food is an essential part of life, but at times we may not feel like eating for a stretch. Loss of appetite can make even your favourite foods feel unexciting.
While a temporary dip in hunger is normal, frequent suppression of appetite may indicate underlying health issues that require attention.
In this article, we will discuss the common causes of a lack of hunger, the signs, and ways to manage it.
What is Loss of Appetite?
Everyone has a varying appetite. Some may feel satisfied with smaller portions, while others might need more to feel full. So, the loss appetite meaning is very specific. It means that you:
- Feel full without eating enough based on how much you usually eat
- Don’t like the taste or sight of foods, a.k.a. food aversion
Sudden lack of hunger or over a long period of time can be concerning and lead to issues such as:
- Feeling tired, low energy
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Hairfall
- Skin changes
- Brittle nails
How Does Appetite Work Anyway?
Hunger is regulated by a system of hormones, including two main hormones:
- Ghrelin: It is the hunger-stimulating hormone that signals the brain to start the digestive processes, start salivation, etc.
- Leptin: This is the satiety hormone that signals the brain to reduce hunger so that you can stop eating.
Health issues or fluctuations in blood sugar levels can also impact these hormones and affect your hunger. Learn more about the poor appetite causes in the following section.
Loss of Appetite Causes
You may have noticed that when you’re sick with a fever, you don’t feel like eating anything all day, sometimes for days, and have to force eat for nutrition. Some other health conditions that are the reasons for loss of appetite are:
- Common cold
- Infections
- Cancer
- Dementia
- Diabetes
- Food poisoning
- Hypothyroidism
Some medications that are linked with hunger suppression are:
- Opioids
- Antibiotics
- Fluoxetine
- Chemotherapy
- Digoxin
- Amphetamines
- Hydralazine
Certain nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition have also been linked to appetite loss. Kids with low iron levels have reduced appetite and more fatigue, says a WHO report.
Low vitamin A, vitamin D, and B vitamins (specifically B12 and folate) are also common culprits behind decreased hunger.
However, when food aversion becomes too serious, the lack of appetite medical term that’s commonly used, is anorexia nervosa. Learn more about this medical condition below.
Comparing Anorexia Nervosa and Common Loss of Appetite
Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder in which people intentionally avoid food due to certain body image concerns.
Differences between anorexia nervosa and appetite loss are:
Causes of Sudden Loss of Appetite in Healthy People
Some people are completely healthy, but still feel uninterested in eating anything. As per studies, even healthy people may experience occasional appetite loss due to stress and anxiety. They don’t feel the urge to eat until the stress has been tackled. This is like the opposite of stress-eating.
Other psychological factors of hunger loss in seemingly healthy people include:
- Depression
- Grief
- Sadness or shock
Read More: Appetite Loss in Summer: Is It Normal?
Lack of Appetite Treatment
If the hunger loss is due to underlying health conditions, it can be fixed as your health restores. Doing these can also be helpful:
- Consult your doctor for medication changes if they’re the cause of your poor hunger.
- Eat small, nutritious meals throughout the day to sustain energy even if you don’t feel like eating.
- Talk to a mental health specialist if you’ve been stressed, worried, depressed, and have irregular eating habits.
- Make sure that you’re getting all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from your diet.
To Sum Up
Loss of appetite can happen to anyone, commonly due to illness, stress, or lifestyle changes. While occasional lack of hunger is normal, frequent or prolonged appetite loss shouldn’t be ignored. To treat it, start by addressing the underlying health condition.
Don’t stop eating completely. Try to have small and nutritious meals because you need them for energy. Consult a certified therapist in cases of extreme eating disorders like anorexia nervosa to restore healthy eating patterns.
