Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAppetite LossCausesHow to Revive Your AppetiteFood Prep TipsWhen to Get Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Appetite Loss
Causes
How to Revive Your Appetite
Food Prep Tips
When to Get Help
It’s normal not to feel hungry from time to time. For example, you may notice that you don’t want to eat much when you’re temporarily sick or stressed. Loss of appetite is also a common problem in people with chronic (long-term) medical conditions, such as cancer, depression, and kidney disease.
If you don’t feel hungry for a day, you shouldn’t force yourself to eat. However, if it’s been several days and you haven’t been able to eat, or if you lose 10 pounds without trying, it’s best to see a healthcare provider for an evaluation.
Svetlana Repnitskaya / Getty Images
Appetite Loss: That Not-Hungry Feeling
Loss of appetite, also known as a decreased appetite, is a reduced desire to eat. Most people occasionally don’t feel hungry. But if you’re going several days at a time without experiencing a desire to eat, it’s important to seek help.
If left untreated, a decreased appetite could lead to complications like unwanted weight loss ormalnutrition.
Reasons Why You Might Not Feel Hungry
Some of the reasons you might not feel hungry include pregnancy, illness, aging, and taking certain medications.
Aging
Many people gradually feel less hungry as they age. Around 15% to 30% of older people experience a loss of appetite. Conditions associated with aging, such asdementia, can also reduce your appetite.
Taste changes (dysgeusia) can occur due to chronic diseases or medications and affect appetite.Chewing and swallowing issues can develop due to stroke, dental problems, or other conditions and lead to reduced appetite.
Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety can affect appetite. When under acute, short-term stress, the body releases hormones (such asadrenaline) that regulate the fight-or-flight response. The release of these hormones can temporarily reduce the desire to eat. On the other hand, long-term orchronic stresscan make you hungrier and overeat.
Infections
Any illness or infection, from viral infections like colds, influenza, and COVID-19 to bacterial infections likepneumonia, can temporarily decrease your appetite. Symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and loss of a sense of smell can make food less appetizing.
Medications
Many prescription medications list a decreased appetite as a potential side effect, including:
Depression
Depression is often associated with weight gain and stress eating, but it can also reduce your appetite and lead to unwanted weight loss. Research suggests that this may be due to changes in the areas of the brain that control hunger among people withmajor depressive disorder(MDD). On a short-term basis, strong emotions like sadness and grief can make a person less hungry.
Getting HelpIf you or a loved one are struggling with depression or an eating disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357 (HELP)for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Getting Help
If you or a loved one are struggling with depression or an eating disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357 (HELP)for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are struggling with depression or an eating disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357 (HELP)for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Digestive Disorders
Examples of digestive disorders that might decrease appetite include:
Pregnancy
During thefirst trimester of pregnancy, 60% of people experience nausea, vomiting, or reduced appetite, and this may continue through pregnancy.Food aversions, morning sickness, and hormonal changes can all play a role.
Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease, also called adrenal insufficiency, is a condition that causes your body to release insufficient amounts of the hormones aldosterone andcortisol. A loss of appetite is often one of the first symptoms of Addison’s disease, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and stomach pain.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid, is a condition in which your thyroid doesn’t release enough thyroid hormone to keep your body in balance. In its later stages, it can cause a loss of taste and smell, both of which can make you feel less hungry.
Chronic Liver or Kidney Disease
Chronic diseases that affect the kidneys or liver, including kidney failure,hepatitis, liver failure,cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and liver failure, have been linked to less hunger, weight loss, and malnutrition.Many people notice that their appetite continues to decline as their disease gets worse.
Cancer
Certain cancers can reduce your appetite, leading to weight loss and fatigue. Not feeling hungry has been linked to the following kinds of cancer:
If you lose your appetite, serious conditions like cancer are rarely to blame. Still, you should talk to your healthcare provider if you’re concerned or notice any other cancer symptoms.
Steps to Get Your Appetite Back
Even when you don’t feel hungry, it’s important to make sure your body is getting enough nutrients each day. Here are a few ways to get your appetite back if you’ve been experiencing a lack of hunger:
If your lack of appetite is related to a temporary condition, such asstress, your hunger may return on its own. If you’re not hungry because of an underlying health problem, treating that condition might revive your desire to eat. Your healthcare provider may also be able to recommend medications to stimulate your appetite if needed.
Should You Force Yourself to Eat When You’re Not Hungry?
Preparing and eating food can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when you’re not hungry. Here are some of the ways you can make eating feel less stressful and more enjoyable:
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
It’s important to seek medical attention if your loss of appetite extends to several days without a desire to eat. Additionally, contact your healthcare provider if you experience unintended weight loss of more than 10 pounds.
If your loss of appetite is related to medications, consult your healthcare provider about adjusting the dosage or switching to a different medicine. However, do not stop taking any prescribed medication without first speaking to your provider.
Summary
If you notice that you don’t feel hungry for several days at a time or more, your lack of appetite may be due to stress, anxiety, depression, sickness, getting older, pregnancy, gastrointestinal problems, and certain medications.
More rarely, you might lose your appetite because of a serious health condition, such as hypothyroidism, Addison’s disease, chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, or cancer.
Consult a healthcare provider if you frequently don’t feel a desire to eat. A medical provider can perform tests to discover, diagnose, and treat any underlying health conditions.
17 SourcesVerywell Health 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.Nagaraj S.Loss of appetite in adult patients: Effectiveness and safety of an appetite stimulating medication in an open-label, investigator-initiated study in India.J Nutr Metab. 2022 Jan;2022(1):2661912. doi:10.1155/2022/2661912Mount Sinai.Appetite - decreased.MedlinePlus.Appetite—decreased.Pilgrim AL, Robinson SM, Sayer AA, Roberts HC.An overview of appetite decline in older people.Nurs Older People. 2015;27(5):29-35. doi:10.7748/nop.27.5.29.e697American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.Dysgeusia.Ans AH, Anjum I, Satija V, Inayat A, Asghar Z, Akram I, Shrestha B.Neurohormonal regulation of appetite and its relationship with stress: a mini literature review.Cureus. 2018;10(7):e3032. doi:10.7759/cureus.3032Høier ATZB, Chaaban N, Andersen BV.Possibilities for maintaining appetite in recovering COVID-19 patients.Foods. 2021;10(2):464. doi:10.3390/foods10020464Lim R, Kalisch Ellett LM, Widagdo IS, Pratt NL, Roughead EE.Analysis of anticholinergic and sedative medicine effects on physical function, cognitive function, appetite and frailty: a cross-sectional study in Australia.BMJ Open. 2019;9(9):e029221. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029221Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, Kerr KL, Bodurka J, Savage CR, Drevets WC.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(4):418-28. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162Moran GW, Thapaliya G.The gut-brain axis and its role in controlling eating behavior in intestinal inflammation.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):981. doi:10.3390/nu13030981Regodón Wallin A, Tielsch JM, Khatry SK, et al.Nausea, vomiting and poor appetite during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes in rural Nepal: an observational cohort study.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20(1):545. doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03141-1National Organization for Rare Disorders.Addison’s disease.MedlinePlus.Hypothyroidism.NHS.Symptoms | chronic kidney disease.Chapman B, Sinclair M, Gow PJ, Testro AG.Malnutrition in cirrhosis: More food for thought.World J Hepatol. 2020;12(11):883-896. doi:10.4254/wjh.v12.i11.883Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Healthy weight gain.National Health Service.Eating problems.
17 Sources
Verywell Health 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.Nagaraj S.Loss of appetite in adult patients: Effectiveness and safety of an appetite stimulating medication in an open-label, investigator-initiated study in India.J Nutr Metab. 2022 Jan;2022(1):2661912. doi:10.1155/2022/2661912Mount Sinai.Appetite - decreased.MedlinePlus.Appetite—decreased.Pilgrim AL, Robinson SM, Sayer AA, Roberts HC.An overview of appetite decline in older people.Nurs Older People. 2015;27(5):29-35. doi:10.7748/nop.27.5.29.e697American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.Dysgeusia.Ans AH, Anjum I, Satija V, Inayat A, Asghar Z, Akram I, Shrestha B.Neurohormonal regulation of appetite and its relationship with stress: a mini literature review.Cureus. 2018;10(7):e3032. doi:10.7759/cureus.3032Høier ATZB, Chaaban N, Andersen BV.Possibilities for maintaining appetite in recovering COVID-19 patients.Foods. 2021;10(2):464. doi:10.3390/foods10020464Lim R, Kalisch Ellett LM, Widagdo IS, Pratt NL, Roughead EE.Analysis of anticholinergic and sedative medicine effects on physical function, cognitive function, appetite and frailty: a cross-sectional study in Australia.BMJ Open. 2019;9(9):e029221. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029221Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, Kerr KL, Bodurka J, Savage CR, Drevets WC.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(4):418-28. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162Moran GW, Thapaliya G.The gut-brain axis and its role in controlling eating behavior in intestinal inflammation.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):981. doi:10.3390/nu13030981Regodón Wallin A, Tielsch JM, Khatry SK, et al.Nausea, vomiting and poor appetite during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes in rural Nepal: an observational cohort study.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20(1):545. doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03141-1National Organization for Rare Disorders.Addison’s disease.MedlinePlus.Hypothyroidism.NHS.Symptoms | chronic kidney disease.Chapman B, Sinclair M, Gow PJ, Testro AG.Malnutrition in cirrhosis: More food for thought.World J Hepatol. 2020;12(11):883-896. doi:10.4254/wjh.v12.i11.883Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Healthy weight gain.National Health Service.Eating problems.
Verywell Health 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.
Nagaraj S.Loss of appetite in adult patients: Effectiveness and safety of an appetite stimulating medication in an open-label, investigator-initiated study in India.J Nutr Metab. 2022 Jan;2022(1):2661912. doi:10.1155/2022/2661912Mount Sinai.Appetite - decreased.MedlinePlus.Appetite—decreased.Pilgrim AL, Robinson SM, Sayer AA, Roberts HC.An overview of appetite decline in older people.Nurs Older People. 2015;27(5):29-35. doi:10.7748/nop.27.5.29.e697American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.Dysgeusia.Ans AH, Anjum I, Satija V, Inayat A, Asghar Z, Akram I, Shrestha B.Neurohormonal regulation of appetite and its relationship with stress: a mini literature review.Cureus. 2018;10(7):e3032. doi:10.7759/cureus.3032Høier ATZB, Chaaban N, Andersen BV.Possibilities for maintaining appetite in recovering COVID-19 patients.Foods. 2021;10(2):464. doi:10.3390/foods10020464Lim R, Kalisch Ellett LM, Widagdo IS, Pratt NL, Roughead EE.Analysis of anticholinergic and sedative medicine effects on physical function, cognitive function, appetite and frailty: a cross-sectional study in Australia.BMJ Open. 2019;9(9):e029221. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029221Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, Kerr KL, Bodurka J, Savage CR, Drevets WC.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(4):418-28. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162Moran GW, Thapaliya G.The gut-brain axis and its role in controlling eating behavior in intestinal inflammation.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):981. doi:10.3390/nu13030981Regodón Wallin A, Tielsch JM, Khatry SK, et al.Nausea, vomiting and poor appetite during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes in rural Nepal: an observational cohort study.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20(1):545. doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03141-1National Organization for Rare Disorders.Addison’s disease.MedlinePlus.Hypothyroidism.NHS.Symptoms | chronic kidney disease.Chapman B, Sinclair M, Gow PJ, Testro AG.Malnutrition in cirrhosis: More food for thought.World J Hepatol. 2020;12(11):883-896. doi:10.4254/wjh.v12.i11.883Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Healthy weight gain.National Health Service.Eating problems.
Nagaraj S.Loss of appetite in adult patients: Effectiveness and safety of an appetite stimulating medication in an open-label, investigator-initiated study in India.J Nutr Metab. 2022 Jan;2022(1):2661912. doi:10.1155/2022/2661912
Mount Sinai.Appetite - decreased.
MedlinePlus.Appetite—decreased.
Pilgrim AL, Robinson SM, Sayer AA, Roberts HC.An overview of appetite decline in older people.Nurs Older People. 2015;27(5):29-35. doi:10.7748/nop.27.5.29.e697
American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.Dysgeusia.
Ans AH, Anjum I, Satija V, Inayat A, Asghar Z, Akram I, Shrestha B.Neurohormonal regulation of appetite and its relationship with stress: a mini literature review.Cureus. 2018;10(7):e3032. doi:10.7759/cureus.3032
Høier ATZB, Chaaban N, Andersen BV.Possibilities for maintaining appetite in recovering COVID-19 patients.Foods. 2021;10(2):464. doi:10.3390/foods10020464
Lim R, Kalisch Ellett LM, Widagdo IS, Pratt NL, Roughead EE.Analysis of anticholinergic and sedative medicine effects on physical function, cognitive function, appetite and frailty: a cross-sectional study in Australia.BMJ Open. 2019;9(9):e029221. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029221
Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, Kerr KL, Bodurka J, Savage CR, Drevets WC.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(4):418-28. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162
Moran GW, Thapaliya G.The gut-brain axis and its role in controlling eating behavior in intestinal inflammation.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):981. doi:10.3390/nu13030981
Regodón Wallin A, Tielsch JM, Khatry SK, et al.Nausea, vomiting and poor appetite during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes in rural Nepal: an observational cohort study.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20(1):545. doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03141-1
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Addison’s disease.
MedlinePlus.Hypothyroidism.
NHS.Symptoms | chronic kidney disease.
Chapman B, Sinclair M, Gow PJ, Testro AG.Malnutrition in cirrhosis: More food for thought.World J Hepatol. 2020;12(11):883-896. doi:10.4254/wjh.v12.i11.883
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Healthy weight gain.
National Health Service.Eating problems.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
