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Appetite - decreased

Show Alternative Names
Loss of appetite
Decreased appetite
Anorexia

A decreased appetite is when your desire to eat is reduced. The medical term for a loss of appetite is anorexia.

Considerations

Any illness can reduce appetite. If the illness is treatable, the appetite should return when the condition is cured.

Loss of appetite can cause weight loss.

Causes

A decreased appetite is often seen in older adults. Often, no physical cause is found. Emotions such as sadness, depression, or grief can lead to a loss of appetite.

Cancer can also cause decreased appetite. You may lose weight without trying. Cancers that may cause you to lose your appetite include:

Other causes of decreased appetite include:

Home Care

People with cancer or a chronic illness that causes weight loss need to increase their protein and calorie intake by eating high-calorie, nutritious snacks or several small meals during the day. Liquid protein drinks may be helpful.

Family members should try to supply favorite foods to help stimulate the person's appetite.

Keep a record of what you eat and drink for 24 or more hours. This is called a diet history.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your health care provider if you lose more than 10 pounds or 4.5 kilograms (kg) without trying.

Seek medical help if decreased appetite occurs along with other signs of depression, prescription medicine, illegal drug or alcohol use, or an eating disorder.

For loss of appetite caused by medicines, ask your provider about changing the dosage or medicine. Do not stop taking any medicine without first talking to your provider.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider will perform a physical exam and will check your height and weight.

You'll be asked about diet and medical history. Questions may include:

  • Is the decreased appetite severe or mild?
  • Have you lost any weight? How much?
  • Is the decreased appetite a new symptom?
  • If so, did it start after an upsetting event, such as the death of a family member or friend?
  • What other symptoms are present?

Tests that may be done include imaging tests, such as x-ray or ultrasound. Blood and urine tests may also be ordered.

In cases of severe malnutrition, nutrients are given through a vein (intravenously). This may require a hospital stay.

Review Date: 7/23/2024

Reviewed By

Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

References

Mason JB. Nutritional principles and assessment of the gastroenterology patient. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 5.

McGee S. Protein-energy malnutrition and weight loss. In: McGee S, ed. Evidence-Based Physical Diagnosis. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 12.

McQuaid KR. Approach to the patient with gastrointestinal disease. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 118.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism

Animation

 
Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism

Animation

 
 
 
 

Hypothyroidism - Animation

Do you feel tired and weak? Well, there could be many reasons for that, but a slow, underactive thyroid may be your problem. Let's talk about hypothyroidism - also known as Slow Thyroid.

Here's the thyroid. It's this butterfly shaped gland in your neck - just below the voice box.

The thyroid gland is known as the "master gland" of the body. It regulates our metabolism, so we don't act slow, like turtles, or fast, like jackrabbits.

This gland releases hormones that control many important things, like helping your heart pump blood, stimulating your brain and muscles, and helping you keep your body at a healthy temperature. When you have hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland does not make enough hormone, so you end up feeling a bit slow, and perhaps cold, like the turtle.

So, what causes a slow thyroid?

For at least 9 out of 10 folks, the cause is something called Hashimoto's thyroiditis -- It's what we call an "autoimmune condition", where, for reasons that we don't quite understand, our own body attacks perfectly good thyroid tissue as though it were a foreign invader. This attack damages the thyroid gland, so much, that it can't put out enough hormone.

This attack happens much more often in women than in men, 10 and 20 times more often. Also, some women develop this condition soon after pregnancy, Why that happens? Nobody knows for sure!

So, how do you feel if you have a slow thyroid?

If it's just mildly slow, you might not feel anything at all, that's called subclinical hypothyroidism. On the other hand, you might be experiencing symptoms of a slow thyroid RIGHT NOW, but you just haven't connected the dots. You might have mild fatigue, memory or concentration problems. You may have a decreased sex drive, or have trouble losing weight.

If you have hypothyroidism, the main treatment is to use a synthetic form of T4 hormone, called Levothyroxine, that simply replaces what your body isn't producing. After starting hormone replacement, your hormone levels should be checked about every 6 weeks, to make sure you are maintaining normal levels.

It's important to remember that treating hypothyroidism does not cure the problem, it only controls it. And once you're on Thyroid hormone replacement, you're probably on it for life. The good news is that once your thyroid situation is properly regulated, you'll probably feel a whole lot better.

 

Hypothyroidism - Animation

Do you feel tired and weak? Well, there could be many reasons for that, but a slow, underactive thyroid may be your problem. Let's talk about hypothyroidism - also known as Slow Thyroid.

Here's the thyroid. It's this butterfly shaped gland in your neck - just below the voice box.

The thyroid gland is known as the "master gland" of the body. It regulates our metabolism, so we don't act slow, like turtles, or fast, like jackrabbits.

This gland releases hormones that control many important things, like helping your heart pump blood, stimulating your brain and muscles, and helping you keep your body at a healthy temperature. When you have hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland does not make enough hormone, so you end up feeling a bit slow, and perhaps cold, like the turtle.

So, what causes a slow thyroid?

For at least 9 out of 10 folks, the cause is something called Hashimoto's thyroiditis -- It's what we call an "autoimmune condition", where, for reasons that we don't quite understand, our own body attacks perfectly good thyroid tissue as though it were a foreign invader. This attack damages the thyroid gland, so much, that it can't put out enough hormone.

This attack happens much more often in women than in men, 10 and 20 times more often. Also, some women develop this condition soon after pregnancy, Why that happens? Nobody knows for sure!

So, how do you feel if you have a slow thyroid?

If it's just mildly slow, you might not feel anything at all, that's called subclinical hypothyroidism. On the other hand, you might be experiencing symptoms of a slow thyroid RIGHT NOW, but you just haven't connected the dots. You might have mild fatigue, memory or concentration problems. You may have a decreased sex drive, or have trouble losing weight.

If you have hypothyroidism, the main treatment is to use a synthetic form of T4 hormone, called Levothyroxine, that simply replaces what your body isn't producing. After starting hormone replacement, your hormone levels should be checked about every 6 weeks, to make sure you are maintaining normal levels.

It's important to remember that treating hypothyroidism does not cure the problem, it only controls it. And once you're on Thyroid hormone replacement, you're probably on it for life. The good news is that once your thyroid situation is properly regulated, you'll probably feel a whole lot better.

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
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