What Causes Loss of Appetite?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMedical ConditionsPsychological CausesTreatmentCopingPotential Complications

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Medical Conditions

Psychological Causes

Treatment

Coping

Potential Complications

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Food gives your body the energy it needs to stay healthy. Yourbrain and your gut work togetherto determine when you need to eat and when you’re full.When you have no appetite, it could be a sign that there may be something wrong.

Medical Conditions That Cause Loss of Appetite

The loss of appetite isn’t usually a primary condition. Instead, it’s a symptom of another issue. Sometimes, the cause is fleeting, such as in the case of a stomach bug. But at other times, it can be longer-lasting and may require treatment.

Mental Health Conditions That Cause Loss of Appetite

There are several mental health conditions that may also affect your appetite. Anything from increased stress or grief to a diagnosable mental illness may cause you to lose your desire to eat.Improving your psychological well-beingcan improve your appetite.

Here are some of the most common psychological reasons people lose their appetite:

How To Treat Loss of Appetite

The treatment for the loss of appetite depends on the cause. Your physician will likely ask questions about how often you eat, how you feel after eating, whether your weight has changed, or how long your appetite has been an issue.

Your physician may choose to run tests, such asblood testsor an ultrasound of your stomach, depending on the initial impressions from your interview and physical exam. These tests can help identify the root cause of your loss of appetite.

When loss of appetite is part of a more serious illness, good nutrition and maintaining a healthy weight may be very important to healing. Therefore, a physician may make it a top priority to help you get your appetite back as soon as possible.

Depending on the diagnosis, your physician may recommend the following treatments:

Sometimes, you may be referred to a dietitian who can assist you withmeal planning and symptom management. You might be asked to eat several small meals each day or to cut out certain foods while adding others. A dietitian can also advise you on nutritional supplements that may help you get all the nutrients you need.

Coping with a Loss of Appetite

When you don’t feel like eating, try consuming bland foods like:

Sweet potatoes and soft-boiled eggs are also both easy-to-eat, nutrient-dense options. Shakes, smoothies, and juices can be an additional way to consume calories and nutrients if you are not up to eating a meal.

Feel Good Foods: The Diet-Brain Connection

Effects of Untreated Loss of Appetite

Temporarily losing your appetite is unlikely to cause serious problems, and it will often resolve on its own. However, failing to treat a longer-term loss of appetite can have several serious health consequences.

Some potential complications you might experience if your loss of appetite is not adequately addressed include:

Some of these effects can lead to serious health problems and may be life-threatening.If you are experiencing a loss of appetite that isn’t related to a recent illness or lasts longer than a week, talk to your healthcare provider to get the medical attention you need to address your appetite issues.

Final Thoughts

The prognosis for loss of appetite depends heavily on the cause. For some, it’s a mild issue that resolves on its own. For others, it can become a serious, life-threatening problem that requires intensive medical intervention.

Whether you or someone you love has no appetite, a lack of interest in food and weight loss can be scary. While it’s not normally an issue, don’t ignore it if it lasts more than a few days.

Not feeling hungry might not be a big deal, yet it also might be a sign of an underlying condition that needs treatment. Talk to your physician about any changes in appetite, and learn how to best address the issue.

Is My Loss of Appetite an Eating Disorder?

15 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.van de Wouw M, Schellekens H, Dinan T, Cryan JF.Microbiota-gut-brain axis: modulator of host metabolism and appetite.J Nutrit. 2017;147(5):727-745. doi:10.3945/jn.116.240481Giezenaar C, Chapman I, Luscombe-Marsh N, Feinle-Bisset C, Horowitz M, Soenen S.Ageing is associated with decreases in appetite and energy intake—A meta-analysis in healthy adults.Nutrients. 2016;8(1):28. doi:10.3390/nu8010028Ghrayeb H, Elias M, Nashashibi J, et al.Appetite and ghrelin levels in iron deficiency anemia and the effect of parenteral iron therapy: A longitudinal study.PLoS One. 2020;15(6):e0234209. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234209Hariyanto TI, Kurniawan A.Appetite problem in cancer patients: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.Cancer Treat Res Comm. 2021;27:100336. doi:10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100336Nolden AA, Hwang L-D, Boltong A, Reed DR.Chemosensory changes from cancer treatment and their effects on patients’ food behavior: A scoping review.Nutrients. 2019;11(10). doi:10.3390/nu11102285Liu N, Abell T.Gastroparesis updates on pathogenesis and management.Gut Liver. 2017;11(5):579-589. doi:10.5009/gnl16336Sanyal D, Raychaudhuri M.Hypothyroidism and obesity: An intriguing link.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(4):554-557. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.183454Peny V, Månsson F, Resman F, Ahl J, Tham J.The usefulness of appetite and energy intake-based algorithms to assess treatment effect of a bacterial infection: An observational prospective study.PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0186514. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186514Maurya R, Bhattacharya P, Dey R, Nakhasi HL.Leptin functions in infectious diseases.Front Immunol. 2018;9:2741. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02741Portincasa P, Bonfrate L, de Bari O, Lembo A, Ballou S.Irritable bowel syndrome and diet.Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;5(1):11-19. doi:10.1093/gastro/gow047Dulai PS, Jairath V, Khanna R, et al.Development of the symptoms and impacts questionnaire for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.Aliment Pharmacol Therap. 2020;51(11):1047-1066. doi:10.1111/apt.15726Saha S, Hatch DJ, Hayden KM, Steffens DC, Potter GG.Appetite and weight loss symptoms in late-life depression predict dementia outcomes.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;24(10):870-878. doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2016.05.004Ans AH, Anjum I, Satija V, et al.Neurohormonal regulation of appetite and its relationship with stress: A mini literature review.Cureus. 2018;10(7):e3032. doi:10.7759/cureus.3032National Library of Medicine.Bland diet.Goodrose-Flores C, Bonn SE, Klasson C, Frankling MH, Trolle Lerros Y, Björkhem-Bergman L.Appetite and its association with mortality in patients with advanced cancer - a post-hoc analysis from the Palliative D-study.BMC Palliative Car. 2023;22(159):2023. doi:10.1186/s12904-023-01287-1

15 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.van de Wouw M, Schellekens H, Dinan T, Cryan JF.Microbiota-gut-brain axis: modulator of host metabolism and appetite.J Nutrit. 2017;147(5):727-745. doi:10.3945/jn.116.240481Giezenaar C, Chapman I, Luscombe-Marsh N, Feinle-Bisset C, Horowitz M, Soenen S.Ageing is associated with decreases in appetite and energy intake—A meta-analysis in healthy adults.Nutrients. 2016;8(1):28. doi:10.3390/nu8010028Ghrayeb H, Elias M, Nashashibi J, et al.Appetite and ghrelin levels in iron deficiency anemia and the effect of parenteral iron therapy: A longitudinal study.PLoS One. 2020;15(6):e0234209. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234209Hariyanto TI, Kurniawan A.Appetite problem in cancer patients: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.Cancer Treat Res Comm. 2021;27:100336. doi:10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100336Nolden AA, Hwang L-D, Boltong A, Reed DR.Chemosensory changes from cancer treatment and their effects on patients’ food behavior: A scoping review.Nutrients. 2019;11(10). doi:10.3390/nu11102285Liu N, Abell T.Gastroparesis updates on pathogenesis and management.Gut Liver. 2017;11(5):579-589. doi:10.5009/gnl16336Sanyal D, Raychaudhuri M.Hypothyroidism and obesity: An intriguing link.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(4):554-557. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.183454Peny V, Månsson F, Resman F, Ahl J, Tham J.The usefulness of appetite and energy intake-based algorithms to assess treatment effect of a bacterial infection: An observational prospective study.PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0186514. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186514Maurya R, Bhattacharya P, Dey R, Nakhasi HL.Leptin functions in infectious diseases.Front Immunol. 2018;9:2741. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02741Portincasa P, Bonfrate L, de Bari O, Lembo A, Ballou S.Irritable bowel syndrome and diet.Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;5(1):11-19. doi:10.1093/gastro/gow047Dulai PS, Jairath V, Khanna R, et al.Development of the symptoms and impacts questionnaire for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.Aliment Pharmacol Therap. 2020;51(11):1047-1066. doi:10.1111/apt.15726Saha S, Hatch DJ, Hayden KM, Steffens DC, Potter GG.Appetite and weight loss symptoms in late-life depression predict dementia outcomes.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;24(10):870-878. doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2016.05.004Ans AH, Anjum I, Satija V, et al.Neurohormonal regulation of appetite and its relationship with stress: A mini literature review.Cureus. 2018;10(7):e3032. doi:10.7759/cureus.3032National Library of Medicine.Bland diet.Goodrose-Flores C, Bonn SE, Klasson C, Frankling MH, Trolle Lerros Y, Björkhem-Bergman L.Appetite and its association with mortality in patients with advanced cancer - a post-hoc analysis from the Palliative D-study.BMC Palliative Car. 2023;22(159):2023. doi:10.1186/s12904-023-01287-1

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

van de Wouw M, Schellekens H, Dinan T, Cryan JF.Microbiota-gut-brain axis: modulator of host metabolism and appetite.J Nutrit. 2017;147(5):727-745. doi:10.3945/jn.116.240481Giezenaar C, Chapman I, Luscombe-Marsh N, Feinle-Bisset C, Horowitz M, Soenen S.Ageing is associated with decreases in appetite and energy intake—A meta-analysis in healthy adults.Nutrients. 2016;8(1):28. doi:10.3390/nu8010028Ghrayeb H, Elias M, Nashashibi J, et al.Appetite and ghrelin levels in iron deficiency anemia and the effect of parenteral iron therapy: A longitudinal study.PLoS One. 2020;15(6):e0234209. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234209Hariyanto TI, Kurniawan A.Appetite problem in cancer patients: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.Cancer Treat Res Comm. 2021;27:100336. doi:10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100336Nolden AA, Hwang L-D, Boltong A, Reed DR.Chemosensory changes from cancer treatment and their effects on patients’ food behavior: A scoping review.Nutrients. 2019;11(10). doi:10.3390/nu11102285Liu N, Abell T.Gastroparesis updates on pathogenesis and management.Gut Liver. 2017;11(5):579-589. doi:10.5009/gnl16336Sanyal D, Raychaudhuri M.Hypothyroidism and obesity: An intriguing link.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(4):554-557. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.183454Peny V, Månsson F, Resman F, Ahl J, Tham J.The usefulness of appetite and energy intake-based algorithms to assess treatment effect of a bacterial infection: An observational prospective study.PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0186514. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186514Maurya R, Bhattacharya P, Dey R, Nakhasi HL.Leptin functions in infectious diseases.Front Immunol. 2018;9:2741. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02741Portincasa P, Bonfrate L, de Bari O, Lembo A, Ballou S.Irritable bowel syndrome and diet.Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;5(1):11-19. doi:10.1093/gastro/gow047Dulai PS, Jairath V, Khanna R, et al.Development of the symptoms and impacts questionnaire for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.Aliment Pharmacol Therap. 2020;51(11):1047-1066. doi:10.1111/apt.15726Saha S, Hatch DJ, Hayden KM, Steffens DC, Potter GG.Appetite and weight loss symptoms in late-life depression predict dementia outcomes.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;24(10):870-878. doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2016.05.004Ans AH, Anjum I, Satija V, et al.Neurohormonal regulation of appetite and its relationship with stress: A mini literature review.Cureus. 2018;10(7):e3032. doi:10.7759/cureus.3032National Library of Medicine.Bland diet.Goodrose-Flores C, Bonn SE, Klasson C, Frankling MH, Trolle Lerros Y, Björkhem-Bergman L.Appetite and its association with mortality in patients with advanced cancer - a post-hoc analysis from the Palliative D-study.BMC Palliative Car. 2023;22(159):2023. doi:10.1186/s12904-023-01287-1

van de Wouw M, Schellekens H, Dinan T, Cryan JF.Microbiota-gut-brain axis: modulator of host metabolism and appetite.J Nutrit. 2017;147(5):727-745. doi:10.3945/jn.116.240481

Giezenaar C, Chapman I, Luscombe-Marsh N, Feinle-Bisset C, Horowitz M, Soenen S.Ageing is associated with decreases in appetite and energy intake—A meta-analysis in healthy adults.Nutrients. 2016;8(1):28. doi:10.3390/nu8010028

Ghrayeb H, Elias M, Nashashibi J, et al.Appetite and ghrelin levels in iron deficiency anemia and the effect of parenteral iron therapy: A longitudinal study.PLoS One. 2020;15(6):e0234209. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234209

Hariyanto TI, Kurniawan A.Appetite problem in cancer patients: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.Cancer Treat Res Comm. 2021;27:100336. doi:10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100336

Nolden AA, Hwang L-D, Boltong A, Reed DR.Chemosensory changes from cancer treatment and their effects on patients’ food behavior: A scoping review.Nutrients. 2019;11(10). doi:10.3390/nu11102285

Liu N, Abell T.Gastroparesis updates on pathogenesis and management.Gut Liver. 2017;11(5):579-589. doi:10.5009/gnl16336

Sanyal D, Raychaudhuri M.Hypothyroidism and obesity: An intriguing link.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(4):554-557. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.183454

Peny V, Månsson F, Resman F, Ahl J, Tham J.The usefulness of appetite and energy intake-based algorithms to assess treatment effect of a bacterial infection: An observational prospective study.PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0186514. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186514

Maurya R, Bhattacharya P, Dey R, Nakhasi HL.Leptin functions in infectious diseases.Front Immunol. 2018;9:2741. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02741

Portincasa P, Bonfrate L, de Bari O, Lembo A, Ballou S.Irritable bowel syndrome and diet.Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;5(1):11-19. doi:10.1093/gastro/gow047

Dulai PS, Jairath V, Khanna R, et al.Development of the symptoms and impacts questionnaire for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.Aliment Pharmacol Therap. 2020;51(11):1047-1066. doi:10.1111/apt.15726

Saha S, Hatch DJ, Hayden KM, Steffens DC, Potter GG.Appetite and weight loss symptoms in late-life depression predict dementia outcomes.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;24(10):870-878. doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2016.05.004

Ans AH, Anjum I, Satija V, et al.Neurohormonal regulation of appetite and its relationship with stress: A mini literature review.Cureus. 2018;10(7):e3032. doi:10.7759/cureus.3032

National Library of Medicine.Bland diet.

Goodrose-Flores C, Bonn SE, Klasson C, Frankling MH, Trolle Lerros Y, Björkhem-Bergman L.Appetite and its association with mortality in patients with advanced cancer - a post-hoc analysis from the Palliative D-study.BMC Palliative Car. 2023;22(159):2023. doi:10.1186/s12904-023-01287-1

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