What To Know About Your Appetite

Appetite is the desire to eat food, which is different from hunger. Hunger refers to feelings of discomfort when you do not eat. Your mood, physical health, mental health, and environment can increase your appetite or cause a loss of appetite. Certain medications can also act as appetite stimulants or suppressants.

Changes in appetite may lead to weight gain or weight loss. Talk to a healthcare provider if appetite changes affect your weight or if they could be related to a health condition.

What Is Appetite?

Appetite is the desire to eat food. The regulation of appetite involves the digestive, endocrine (which release hormones), and nervous systems. Sensory nerves, which carry signals to your brain to aid in taste, touch, smell, and sight, also affect your appetite.

Appetite influences how much food you eat, but it differs from hunger. Hunger is a sensation in your body caused by a need for food. Signals from two hormones called ghrelin and leptin regulate both appetite and hunger.

Ghrelin, known as "the hunger hormone", travels through the bloodstream to your brain to stimulate appetite. Leptin is a hormone that helps regulate body weight. It lets the brain know when you are "full" or satiated. Both send signals to your brain that affect appetite and your level of satiety.

Factors That Affect It

You may experience an increased appetite (an excess desire for food) or a decreased appetite (a reduced desire to eat). Appetite changes can occur intermittently or last for long periods.

Factors that affect appetite include:

• Environment
• Lifestyle
• Mental health
• Physical health
• Senses (such as smell and taste)

The hypothalamus is the "control center" of your brain. It's where ghrelin and leptin interact to regulate sensations of hunger and satiety and control your appetite and food intake. Any changes to the balance of ghrelin and leptin can affect your body's ability to regulate energy and appetite.

Decreased

Conditions that can cause or lead to a loss of appetite include:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Dementia
• Hepatitis
• HIV/AIDS
• Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland
• Mental health conditions, such as depression
• Pregnancy (first trimester)

Some medications may also cause a loss of appetite. Examples include antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and morphine.

Increased

Increased appetite may signal a problem with your endocrine system. Some conditions and medications increase your appetite, such as:

• Anxiety
• Bulimia
• Certain drugs, including corticosteroids and tricyclic antidepressants
• Diabetes
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose)
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  

How To Increase Appetite

There are several different methods to increase your appetite, including:

• Eat your favorite foods: Smelling or enjoying a favorite food or treat can stimulate your senses and increase your appetite.
• Exercise: Physical activity may boost appetite in older adults with low appetite.
• Flavor your food: Adding herbs, spices, and sauces to food to enhance flavor and engage your senses can sometimes help spark appetite.
• Get dietary counseling: Seeing a registered dietitian nutritionist for meal-planning advice may be helpful if you have a low appetite from a condition like cancer.

How To Suppress Appetite

Some people may have an increased appetite. You can try the following to manage or suppress an excessive appetite:

• Drink more water: Staying hydrated may increase feelings of fullness. It's possible you may think they are hungry when you are actually thirsty.
• Enlist family and friends: Your close family and friends can provide emotional support. You can share meals with them, which may reduce overeating.
• Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness has been shown to influence behavioral change. Mindfully eating slows you down and helps you to recognize if you are overeating. One study found that it may decrease binge eating and emotional eating. More research is needed to know what the long-term results and effectiveness are.
• See a healthcare provider: A registered dietitian nutritionist can determine the underlying cause of an increased appetite. They may create a meal plan and suggest treatments if necessary.

What To Eat When You Do Not Want To

Try the following foods or methods to make eating easier if you have no appetite:

• Consume a liquid meal, such as a nutrient-dense smoothie, protein shake, or soup.
• Decorate your kitchen table with a nice tablecloth or set of tableware to help your environment appeal to your senses.
• Opt for herbs and spices or sauces to enhance the flavor of your meals.

You may also take oral nutritional supplements to supply your body with the nutrients you would normally get through your diet. Supplements can be particularly helpful for people who have a condition that significantly decreases appetite. Make sure you only take supplements under the guidance of a healthcare provider.

When To Seek Care

Fluctuations in appetite can happen for everyone occasionally. You may seek medical attention if appetite changes persist or affect your overall well-being.

Contact a healthcare provider if you:

• Develop unexplained symptoms related to appetite changes
• Have a decreased appetite and symptoms of an eating disorder, depression, or substance use disorder (SUD)
• Have an unexplained increase or decrease in your appetite that persists 
• Lose more than 10 pounds of body weight over six to 12 months or less without trying or knowing the reason
• Take medication that causes appetite changes

Be prepared to speak about your health history, eating and sleep habits, and other symptoms. A healthcare provider may ask you to take a blood test, thyroid test, or psychological assessment. They may also administer imaging tests or urine tests.

A Quick Review

Appetite is the desire to eat food. Various internal and external factors influence your appetite, including your mood, physical health, mental health, and environment. Certain conditions and medications can also influence appetite.

It's normal for appetite to fluctuate occasionally. Schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider if it happens persistently without explanation or affects your weight, mental health, or overall well-being.