We’re all motivated by food. In fact, you might even always savor mealtime; it’s a chance to relax, feed your body and socialize with friends and family. But if you seem to have lost your appetite recently, you might be wondering, “why am I not hungry?” Is it completely normal to feel this way, or does it mean that something’s wrong?
In this article, we’ll be exploring some causes for why you may not have an appetite. We’ll also discuss when you should seek a doctor’s advice.
Why Am I Not Hungry: Causes Explained
You feel the sensation of hunger through a complex regulated system that your body and brain handle every day. When you feel hungry, it’s usually because your body has received signals that you need to replenish your body’s energy stores. Whether it’s through a drop in blood sugar, an empty stomach, or the presence of certain hormones, the sensation is unmistakable.
However, there are just as many reasons you might not feel hungry at all, even if you haven’t eaten for a while and your body needs the nutrition.
Commonly, certain medications have a loss of appetite as a side effect. If you’ve just started taking a medication, examine its label and leaflet to see if this is the case. It might also be that your body is recovering from an illness such as the flu or the common cold. Being sick can cause nausea and decrease your drive to eat.
Stress can also manifest as physical symptoms, one of which is a decreased appetite. The same is true for anxiety as well as depression. Severe anxiety disorders can also cause nausea, which naturally causes problems with the body’s hunger signaling mechanism.
A new aversion to certain foods could be a pregnancy symptom; being pregnant overall interferes with your hunger and appetite.
Finally, medical conditions such as hypothyroidism can slow your metabolism down and decrease your drive for food.
When You Should Be Concerned
Among the medical conditions that decrease your drive to eat are chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, and serious health conditions such as heart, liver, or kidney disease. The presence of certain cancers can also decrease your appetite, although a doctor’s diagnosis must confirm this.
If you’re feeling severe symptoms of hunger, such as confusion, irritability, light-headedness, or fainting, you should see a doctor.
Conclusion: Seeing A Doctor Is A Good Idea
Food is one of the most important parts of our lives, and not being hungry can mean that something is wrong with the body. A qualified physician can evaluate your health and overall medical history and diagnose why you’re not hungry – helping you get to the bottom of the problem and treat it to get your appetite back.
Aqeeq Internal Medicine offers the best primary care in Houston. We aim to give you personalized, compassionate, high-quality care, and our focus is always to put your health first. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation or diagnosis, please give us a call at (832) 786-8195.