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Why do I want to eat but no appetite?

Loss of appetite can be caused by stress, a stomach bug, or medications, but it may be a sign of something serious, like hypothyroidism, depression, or cancer. Call your doctor if it continues.

buoyhealth.com - 6 Causes of Loss of Appetite & How It's Treated - Buoy Health

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3. Hypothyroidism

Symptoms

Decreased appetite

Cold intolerance

Dry, cool skin

Weight gain

Leg and face swelling

Constipation

Brittle hair and nails

Your thyroid gland is located in the back of your neck and produces hormones that affect many functions, including metabolism. Hypothyroidism is an “underactive thyroid,” which means it doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. This causes many of your body’s functions to slow down, which can lead to a decreased appetite. Hypothyroidism can happen because of an autoimmune disease; any surgery or radiation treatment to the thyroid gland; certain medications; pregnancy; or consuming too much or too little iodine. Usually, older women with a family history of the disease are at the greatest risk of hypothyroidism. The condition is treated with replacement hormone pills. If untreated, symptoms can worsen and cause very low blood pressure and body temperature and even coma.

4. Cancer

Symptoms

Loss of appetite

Fatigue

Unexplained weight loss

Unexplained fever

Persistent pain with no known cause

Various symptoms depending on the type of cancer

Loss of appetite is a very common symptom of cancer. It can occur with any type of cancer, but it’s particularly common if you have cancer of the gastrointestinal tract. Some cancers also release hormones that affect the hunger centers in your brain. If you develop symptoms, it’s very important to see your doctor right away. If your symptoms are caused by cancer, the earlier you’re diagnosed and treated, the more successful treatment will be. Although cancer can cause loss of appetite, the treatment of it can also decrease hunger. Many chemotherapy treatments trigger the vomiting centers of the brain or cause damage to your digestive tract, leading to nausea and vomiting. Your oncologist will know which chemotherapy treatments are most likely to cause these symptoms and can prescribe anti-nausea medications. Pro Tip There are a few high-risk people to consider when discussing loss of appetite. The first is the elderly. The second group includes those suffering from psychiatric disorders. The third group is those suffering from eating disorders. —Dr. Manuelpillai

5. Morning sickness

Symptoms

Loss of appetite

Nausea

Sensitivity to certain smells or tastes

Fatigue

Breast tenderness and enlargement

Pregnant women may get morning sickness, causing nausea and vomiting. This can make eating unappealing, and you may find you’re unable to tolerate certain foods that you usually like. Despite its name, morning sickness can occur at any time of the day. It tends to develop in the first trimester, but some pregnant women may have it throughout their pregnancy. You can try to prevent or lessen symptoms by eating bland foods such as crackers throughout the day (particularly when you first wake up) and drinking ginger ale. Over-the-counter therapies—such as ginger, vitamin B-6 supplements, and doxylamine (Unisom)—can also help soothe your symptoms. Or your doctor may prescribe anti-nausea medications such as ondansetron (Zofran), metoclopramide (Reglan), or phenergan.

6. Infections

Symptoms

Loss of appetite

Nausea

Fatigue

Fever

Abdominal pain

Diarrhea

Unintentional weight loss

Many infections, especially stomach bugs, like rotavirus or norovirus, can make you lose your appetite. These are associated with fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Other infections such as the flu and COVID-19 can also make you lose your appetite, as well as hepatitis and HIV. Most common stomach bugs and the flu go away on their own, but it’s important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

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How many times should you eat a day?

foodnetwork.com - How Often Should You Eat? - Food Network

The Theory: Nutrition experts tend to recommend eating 3 balanced meals (350 to 600 calories each) and 1 to 3 snacks per day (between 150 and 200 calories each). The calories for each meal and snack depend on a variety of factors including, height, weight, age, gender and activity level. The philosophy is to make sure you don't go longer than 5 hours or so without eating. After going without food for a prolonged period of time, folks tend to become ravenous and their decision-making skills plummet. They end up choosing any food they can find, including fast food or high-calorie treats.