If a person continues not to eat, they can have slurred speech, confusion, syncope (fainting), or seizures. Prolonged lack of nutrition can lead to severe weight loss, fatigue, depression, and stomach issues.
Symptoms of not eating vary based on the amount of time since a person last ate, age, and chronic conditions a person may have. Some of the initial symptoms are a result of the body not having enough sugar and include shakiness, irritability, nausea, and more. In most cases, eating resolves these symptoms.
If a person continues not to eat, they can have slurred speech, confusion, syncope (fainting), or seizures. Prolonged lack of nutrition can lead to severe weight loss, fatigue, depression, and stomach issues.
Verywell / Ellen Linder
Frequent Symptoms
The most common symptoms of not eating include low blood sugar, low energy levels, and malnutrition.
Decreased Blood Sugar
When a person doesn’t eat enough, their body doesn’t get the proper amount of glucose (blood sugar), and their blood sugar drops.
Some of the initial symptoms of decreased blood sugar include:
Extreme hunger
Difficulty concentrating
Nausea
Dizziness
Shaking or feeling weak
Clamminess (pale, sweating, chills)
Fast heart rate (tachycardia)
Irritability or anxiety
Problems with coordination
Headaches
Blood Sugar Crash For most people with low blood sugar levels, eating will resolve their symptoms. If the person does not eat enough, the body will continue to experience a blood sugar crash.
As blood sugar continues to drop, symptoms get more serious and include:
Blurred vision
Slurred speech
Confusion
Fainting
Sleepiness
Tingling or numbness in the lips, tongue, or cheeks
Nightmares or crying out during sleep
Seizures
Low Energy Level
The calories we get from food provide energy for our bodies to function. One of the most common dangers of not eating enough calories over an extended period is low energy levels. If you have been feeling exhausted, regardless of how much sleep you are getting, it may be a symptom of not getting enough calories or eating the right type of food.
Symptoms That Co-Occur With Low Energy In addition to experiencing low energy levels due to not eating, you may also experience: Dehydration
Feeling cold
Weight loss
Fatigue
Problems sleeping
Stomach pain or bloating
Gastrointestinal issues such as constipation or diarrhea
Depression
Malnutrition: Decreased Nutrients and Minerals
As poor intake continues and the body does not receive enough nutrition, multiple functions are affected. The body continues to become deficient in calories as well as carbohydrates, protein, or fats. It may not be receiving critical minerals and nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, and protein.
Over time, symptoms of malnutrition start to occur, and they include:
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Prolonged disruption in nutrition causes the body to decline. A person may start experiencing long term symptoms of malnutrition such as:
Being very thin or emaciated
Brittle hair and nails
Glossitis (inflammation of the tongue)
(inflammation of the tongue) Stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth)
Fine, downy body hair (called lanugo)
Dry or yellowish skin
Infertility (unable to get pregnant)
Slow wound healing
Prolonged bleeding from wounds
Bone thinning and fractures
Anemia (low iron levels)
Heart problems
Complications/Sub-Group Indications
Infants and Children
Infants and children have key differences in their metabolism that cause them to use up more protein, glucose, and lipids to maintain their baseline energy. This can cause them to show symptoms of not eating more quickly than adults.
Infants and children who are not getting enough to eat may be lethargic (not responsive), sleeping more than normal, and be fussy or irritable.
Teens
Teens may have delayed growth or appear short in stature. They may also lack the usual symptoms of puberty due to disruptions in hormones from lack of glucose and calories.
Decreased caloric intake in children and teens may also include symptoms such as:
Fragile bones
Learning difficulties
Personality issues
Mood problems
Chronic Conditions
Those with certain chronic conditions may experience symptoms more rapidly or not compensate (go back to baseline) as quickly as an otherwise healthy person. The following are examples. However, this list is not all-inclusive. If you have a chronic illness, ask your doctor how not eating may affect your body differently.
Diabetes
Not eating can be especially dangerous for people with diabetes because they take medications to lower their blood sugar. They need to check their blood sugar regularly and practice healthy eating habits to prevent blood sugar crashes.
Cancer
Those with cancer, especially those receiving chemotherapy, may experience a decreased appetite, gastrointestinal issues, and sores in their mouth. All of this can lead to not wanting to eat, weight loss, and malnutrition.
Malnutrition in Cancer Patients The prevalence of malnutrition in cancer patients ranges from 20%-70%.
Sickle Cell Disease
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Children and adults with sickle cell disease have a higher metabolic demand. This means they require more caloric (energy) intake and protein than otherwise healthy individuals to maintain normal growth, development, and muscle mass.
Poor nutrition can also lead to joint pain, infection, and anemia, resulting in a painful crisis and hospitalization for those with sickle cell disease.
Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases
Chronic illnesses such as Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause a lack of ability to absorb nutrients the body needs. People with gastrointestinal diseases may not have the reserve of sugar, fat, or nutrients that an otherwise healthy person would have. This can cause their symptoms to occur more rapidly.
When to See a Doctor
If you experience symptoms mentioned above that are not resolved by eating, be sure to talk to your doctor.
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following, seek emergency help immediately:
Vomiting or diarrhea that won’t stop
Persistent tachycardia (fast heart rate) or chest pain
Bleeding that won’t stop
Unresponsiveness (not waking up)
Trouble breathing
Slurred speech, or drooping on one side of the body
Persistent disorientation or confusion
Seizures
Injury to neck or spine (this may occur from fainting and falling)
Sudden, persistent, unusual, or bad headache
Sudden confusion
Unable to speak, see, walk, or move
A Word From Verywell
Lack of nutrition may be a result of a person not eating a well-balanced diet, not getting enough to eat, or not eating at all. While not getting enough nutrition can be hazardous to your health, it’s rarely too late to start eating a healthy well-balanced diet.
If you are worried that your child is not eating enough, consult with their pediatrician. These healthcare providers use charts to help them monitor your child’s growth and development. They watch for a rapid decrease in weight and slowing or stopping of expected height growth rates.
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