No appetite and weakness reasons. General condition disorders. Lack of appetite: reasons

Complete absence appetite is an alarm bell signaling a malfunction in the body ( endocrine disorders, rheumatic diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, etc.) Let's try to figure out what the causes of poor appetite are, whether it is possible to quickly improve nutrition and restore health.

Why do I lose my appetite?

Decreased appetite or refusal to eat leads to an imbalance in nutritional balance, a decrease in nutrients and blood glucose, which is dangerous for normal operation body. The main functions of food - energy, bioregulatory, plastic, adaptive, protective, signal-motivational - ensure the vital activity of the body and constancy internal environment. Once in the body, food promotes the construction of new cells, participates in the formation of enzymes and hormones, and replenishes the body with proteins, minerals and vitamins.

If there is no appetite for a long time or any other disturbance in the habitual relationship with food appears, this is a signal that the person needs help. A psychotherapist, gastroenterologist, nutritionist, and endocrinologist are specialists who will determine the causes of appetite disorders and help restore it.

Loss or decreased appetite in adults can have a number of causes:

Intoxication of the body as a consequence inflammatory processes and poisoning.

Occurs during ARVI, intestinal infections, hepatitis B and C, chronic renal failure. Intoxication is accompanied by acute rheumatic diseases (lupus erythematosus, polyarthritis, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis), poisoning food products, medications, low-quality alcohol, carbon monoxide. A person has practically no appetite, weakness appears, as the body has difficulty digesting food. You cannot force feed a patient so as not to harm. It is useful to drink plenty of fluids, which will help get rid of toxins that have arisen as the body fights infection. To find out the cause of the illness, it is recommended to undergo a detailed blood test and stool culture for intestinal pathogens.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Acute conditions.

Digestive disorders occur with gastritis, enteritis, colitis, gastric ulcers, and liver diseases. Accompanied by nausea, vomiting, heartburn, belching with bitterness, painful sensations in the esophagus and stomach. At the same time, a person is purely reflexively afraid to eat. Frequent recommended fractional meals(liquid porridges based on oatmeal, buckwheat, semolina, rice cereals, without salt and seasonings). This diet should be supplemented traditional treatment which the doctor will prescribe. It is important to undergo an ultrasound of the organs abdominal cavity, fibrogastroscopy (for gastritis), do general analysis blood and liver tests. In order to exclude viral hepatitis, it is recommended to donate blood for hepatitis B and C.

Disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.

Lead not only to loss of appetite, but also to fatigue, constant drowsiness, decrease blood pressure, slower speech. These symptoms appear long years. Pathologies thyroid gland sometimes associated with malfunction pituitary gland and hypothalamus.

It is necessary to be examined by an endocrinologist, donate blood for thyroid hormones T3, T4 and TSH. If there is a suspicion of malfunction of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, the doctor will prescribe computed tomography brain.

Metabolic disorders due to cancer.

Malignant formations disrupt the metabolism in the body, therefore they are distorted taste sensations and loss of appetite. The person feels nauseous, weakness appears, and intolerance to meat and dairy products often occurs. Oncologist in case of suspected malignant tumor prescribes examinations in accordance with clinical manifestations and, based on the results, prescribes treatment.

Diseases nervous system, psychological disorders(loss of appetite due to depression, neuroses, dementia).

Appetite can change both downward and upward. Loss of appetite for nervous soil characterized by a lack of sensation of taste in food. Sometimes the very mention of food or its smell triggers negative reaction up to nausea and vomiting. A person eats only to survive, since food itself does not bring pleasure, and even a small portion of food taken causes a feeling of fullness in the stomach.

Anorexia nervosa is one of the mental disorders and is common among young girls. The pathological desire to correct the “flaws” of the figure at any cost, even at normal weight, leads to a refusal to eat. Over time, a persistent aversion to food appears, muscles atrophy, and the functioning of the musculoskeletal system is disrupted. Patients refuse food for so long that it ceases to be absorbed by the body. A change in the psyche occurs, and the person is no longer able to get out of this state on his own. A psychotherapist will help, and severe cases– and inpatient treatment.

Loss of appetite during pregnancy, children and the elderly

If a child has lost his appetite, he does not receive enough vitamins, micro, and macroelements necessary for growth and development. Babies do not want to eat when their baby teeth are cutting in (from 3 months to 3 years), since this process is often accompanied by elevated temperature and pain. Infants and older children refuse food when they have stomatitis (rashes and sores on the oral mucosa), which causes pain.

Pregnant women may lose their appetite for a short period of time.

Pregnant women may lose their appetite for a short period of time. Foods that a woman loved before pregnancy often cause disgust at the beginning of pregnancy, morning or daytime nausea appears, which does not contribute to appetite.

Exist simple ways increase appetite:

Eat less, but more often.

Fractional meals are better accepted by the body. It is recommended to eat small meals in 4-5 meals at the same time. A beautiful table setting will help whet your appetite.

Fresh air, sports.

Walking on fresh air and physical activity will give you a boost of energy and stimulate your appetite.

Get rid of bad habits.

Deprived of the pleasure of nicotine and alcohol, the body will look for it in something else, and most often in food.

Healing herbal infusions and products.

Infusion of wormwood, tea with mint, radish juice, onion, garlic, parsnip, chicory, calamus, black currant, plantain, all citrus fruits, green vegetables increase intestinal motility, strengthen the stomach, and increase appetite. A course of vitamins, minerals, ascorbic acid will strengthen the body and stimulate appetite.

Increased drinking regime.

In case of poisoning or overeating, clean drinking water – best medicine. It flushes poisons and toxins from the body. Dehydration disrupts everything vitally important processes at the cellular level.

Treatment of the underlying disease.

For gastritis and other gastrointestinal pathologies, kidney diseases, and rheumatic diseases, you need to get qualified medical advice and treatment.

One-day fasting and diet.

Helps improve appetite short-term fasting within 12 or 24 hours. The body will rest and get rid of residues undigested food, poisons and toxins. If you have gastritis, fasting is contraindicated.

Including fermented milk products (kefir, yogurt) and fiber (microcrystalline cellulose, vegetables, fruits, bran) in large quantities in the diet restores the digestive system, normalizes intestinal microflora and stimulates appetite.

Conclusion

To increase the appetite of a child or adult, you need to promptly find out and eliminate the causes of disorders (cure diseases, change lifestyle, adjust diet). A healthy appetite will ensure wellness and mood for many years of life.

Loss of appetite is a signal from the body that something is wrong. A healthy person always needs food as a source of energy. Therefore, you should treat this symptom responsibly and find out its causes. Of particular concern is a decrease in appetite that lasts more than ten days.

Causes of poor appetite in adults

A person may lose interest in food due to several factors. But they all have a negative effect on the body.

Lack of appetite due to illness

Appetite decreases when various diseases appear:

ailments from the gastrointestinal tract. They can be both inflammatory and infectious in nature;
diseases of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys;
diabetes and thyroid diseases;
rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases;
influenza and ARVI;
oncology;
neurological and mental disorders.

Wrong diet

The appetite of someone losing weight can also decrease significantly if they have an insatiable desire to get rid of it in any way. excess weight. An ill-conceived diet based on a small amount of calories exhausts the body.

Man obsessing over what to eat large quantity food is a serious crime. Uncontrollable and long-term use widespread methods of rapid weight loss can lead to anorexia, when any food causes painful aversion.

Incorrect fasting technique

The popularization of the so-called “miraculous” fasting, which supposedly improves health and relieves even incurable diseases, often leads people to acquire additional problems, including loss of appetite. Most often this happens when they are treated independently, without the supervision of a nutritionist.

Protest fasting, uncontrolled by specialists, also brings painful consequences.

Eating in different time, as well as the use Low-quality products or eating at fast food chains can lead to the production of toxins in the body. Their effect weakens a person and ultimately impairs appetite.

With this method of eating, the situation is aggravated by an unbalanced diet. Typically, protein intake is reduced and fat and carbohydrate intake is increased. Often absent essential vitamins and microelements.

Digestion may be upset, and subsequently metabolism will be disrupted.

Chemical drugs

Reduce appetite side effects some medications:

antidiabetic;
anesthetics;
antibiotics;
painkillers;
cold medicine, etc.

Taking strong medications without medical advice can also be harmful. But usually after a certain time this effect goes away.

Due to strong feelings caused by the departure of loved ones, troubles at work, domestic quarrels, a person often finds himself in stressful state, which is fraught with lack of appetite. Long stay in similar situations can lead to depression, which is also characterized by refusal to eat. Antidepressants prescribed by a specialist can help.

In addition to those mentioned, there are a number of other reasons for decreased interest in food. Suppress appetite nicotine, alcohol, drugs, excessive amounts fatty foods, sweets and carbonated drinks. To these factors you can add low physical activity and prolonged use of herbal infusions.

Health hazards and possible complications

Absence necessary substances, coming from food, is first manifested by poor health, a pronounced imbalance in nutritional balance.

People engaged in physical labor complain of fatigue.
Decreasing brain activity in students.
Drowsiness, dizziness, and then exhaustion of the body are observed.

Psychopathological disorders in those who lose weight cause anorexia. Now this disease is often neurogenic in nature. In advanced cases, the body cannot absorb food, muscles atrophy, and all systems fail. Possible death.

If you don’t feel like eating for more than two weeks, you need to go to the clinic. Experts will determine what causes this reaction in the body.

What to do if you have no appetite

If the loss of appetite is caused by irregular eating, you need to start eating more often, but little by little. The body will learn to regularly produce enzymes to digest it. During this period, you should refrain from snacking.

There are several other ways to get out painful condition food aversion.

Physical exercise

Physical activity fresh air helps awaken the appetite. Even after a regular walk, a certain amount of energy is consumed, which must be replenished with food.

Not complicated gymnastic exercises indoors with open window also stimulate appetite.
It is important to ventilate both bedrooms and workrooms more often.
It is necessary to walk on weekends, as well as in the morning and evening, and in any weather, even rainy.
Need to drink more water, especially if physical activity increases. After all, sometimes it is dehydration that causes loss of appetite.

Infusions of plants with healing properties increase appetite,
if taken correctly - 30 minutes before meals. In case of emotional breakdowns, teas are brewed with peppermint, chamomile, lemon balm, and dill.

Bitter infusions of calamus or dandelion roots, wormwood leaves, yarrow, black currant, and plantain can restore appetite. Before using them, you should consult your doctor. Almost every plant has some contraindications for use.

Juice from the leaves and stems of yarrow, mixed with honey, drink one teaspoon three times a day.
In spring, salads are made from dandelion leaves.
An infusion of two teaspoons of crushed dandelion rhizomes is obtained by pouring 200 g of them cold water and leaving for 8 hours. Drink 50 g 4 times a day.
Grind one teaspoon of wormwood and pour 200 g of boiling water. After 30 minutes the infusion is ready. Drink 20 g three times a day 20 minutes before meals.

Food of plant origin

Some common vegetables and fruits are good appetite stimulants:

are in the lead onion and garlic. Onions activate intestinal motility and strengthen the stomach. Garlic helps with exhaustion of the body;
radish juice;
citrus;
grape;
peaches;
apricots;
bananas;
sour apples;
sauerkraut.

Spices and spices are also on this list. Use in reasonable quantities:

pepper;
horseradish;
mustard;
anise;
fenugreek;
rosemary;
ginger;
cinnamon.

Drugs to increase appetite

If the decrease in appetite is not due to illness, the attending physician will prescribe medications that will help cope with this problem. Except medications, a course of taking vitamins will be useful. These can be various multivitamin complexes, but it is desirable that they contain a high percentage of the most essential ones: C and B 12.

The presence of such in multivitamins is welcome useful mineral, like zinc. Its deficiency leads to a decrease in the sense of smell. And this feeling is very important for increasing appetite.

Effective in this process food supplement- yeast. They contain a whole vitamin B complex.

In order for the desire to eat to arise systematically, it is strongly recommended to quit smoking or at least reduce the number of cigarettes smoked. In addition, it is advisable to stick to a daily routine.

One of the main reasons to sit down at the table is its beautiful setting, as well as deliciously prepared and nutritious food. When recovering from a crisis, it is advisable to eat foods rich in proteins.

Conclusion

Long-term loss of appetite is a serious health threat.

Appetite may for a long time be absent due to illness, irregular nutrition, stress, medication, non-compliance with diet rules and therapeutic fasting.

Loss of appetite threatens disruption of processes in the gastrointestinal tract, metabolic disorders, and irreversible changes in the body.

You need to eat regularly, increase physical activity, use infusions medicinal plants, vegetables, fruits, herbs, prescribed medications.

In contact with

Loss of appetite occurs due to various reasons. Some of them are not so serious and pass without special treatment, while others require careful diagnosis, because sometimes they signal dangerous illnesses. The therapeutic approach to solving the problem associated with loss of appetite depends on the triggering factor.

Why does loss of appetite occur in adults?

U healthy person There is always a natural craving for food. Appetite is characterized by the presence of an emotional need to eat. It often increases with a feeling of hunger. If any problems occur in the body, then lack of appetite is often a signal that there is some disease or pathological condition. Provoking factors this symptom there may be plenty. A complete lack of cravings for food occurs in cases of serious illness and psychological disorders, which provoke the appearance of the disease. Independent illness this is not a symptom. It is always based on some other pathology.

Among women additional reason reception may serve hormonal contraceptives that change taste preferences. On initial stage often manifests itself as nausea, which reduces appetite. For representatives of the stronger sex, the provoking factor may be a problem with potency, to which men react very sensitively. In old age, an abundance of diseases and atrophic processes in digestive tract often provoke loss of appetite.

Loss of appetite can occur at any age and may be accompanied by additional symptoms.

Psychological reasons - video

Additional symptoms

Loss of appetite is often accompanied by additional signs, which significantly complicate life and the course of the pathology. Main symptoms:

Reluctance to eat.
Nausea.
Decreased mood.
Discomfortable sensations in the epigastrium.
Weakness.

Associated symptoms:

Weight loss.
Feeling of a lump in the throat.
Decreased mood and concentration.
Increased sweating.
Reduced performance.
Daytime sleepiness.
General bad feeling.
Decreased body temperature.
Cold extremities.
Epigastric pain.
Dizziness.
Darkening in the eyes.
Increased thirst.
Stool disorders.

When loss of appetite accompanies a person for a long time, poor health becomes his constant companion.

Ways to fight

The main approach to restoring appetite is to eliminate the cause that caused such a symptom. If the underlying disease is not treated, but only corrected the consequences, then no positive results will not be.

Main approaches to treatment:

Diet. The main thing is in this case normalize nutrition. That is, include in your diet foods that can stimulate your appetite. To do this, you should consume chocolate, sauces, salted fish, legumes, baked goods and confectionery, seafood, mushrooms, fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, it is very useful to season food with various stimulating spices: pepper, ginger, turmeric, coriander. It is recommended to eat 4 times a day in small portions. You can drink a small glass of dry wine, which will increase your appetite. Good result They give juices: pomegranate, orange and apple.
Medicines and vitamins. Reception medicines, which stimulate appetite, is indicated only after consultation with a specialist if there is a persistent lack of cravings for food. Typically, such preparations contain natural ingredients, such as: bee royal jelly(Apilak), bee bread and propolis. It is also recommended to take ascorbic acid and B vitamins.
Surgical intervention. Operative method used when loss of appetite is caused by acute appendicitis. In this case, the area of the cecum is excised using a surgical scalpel. The operation is also used for serious ulcerative lesions stomach and intestines.

Appetite stimulating foods - gallery

Chocolate stimulates the secretion of the digestive glands. It is best to use mustard-based sauces. It is best to use salted trout, mackerel or herring.
Legumes stimulate appetite
Baking and confectionery products cause secretion gastric juice Seafood combined with spices stimulates appetite
Almost all fruits and vegetables increase appetite Black pepper is a taste stimulant Ginger is best added in ground form
Turmeric is a great addition to any sauce. Coriander has a specific taste, so it needs to be added in small quantities. Pomegranate juice increases appetite and stimulates digestion.
Mushrooms are best consumed fried or stewed.

Additional treatments

In order to restore your appetite, you can use traditional medicine methods. The most effective recipes:

Horseradish drink. To prepare it you will need the root of this plant in the amount of 1 tsp. It must first be grated and placed in a glass container. Then pour a glass of boiling water and let it sit for 40 minutes. After this, the drink should be strained and consumed 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day half an hour before meals. The course should be no more than a week.
Apple-grape mixture. This remedy stimulates the appetite and prepares the stomach for heavier food. To prepare you will need 2 green apples and sweet black grapes in the amount of 300 g. Both ingredients must be thoroughly washed. Peel and core the apple. Place everything in a blender and grind. Store the mixture in the refrigerator for no more than a day. Eat 4 tbsp. l. 40 minutes before each meal. This method can be treated for an unlimited amount of time, of course, if there are no inflammatory diseases Gastrointestinal tract.
A decoction that increases appetite. Will need to be mixed in equal quantities mint, plantain and oregano. Then take 20 g of dry raw material and pour 400 ml of boiling water. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes. After this, let the liquid cool and strain through cheesecloth. Drink 50 ml 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment with decoction is 10 days.

In addition to traditional medicine, it is recommended to regulate sleep and rest patterns. It is necessary to play sports. It is not necessary to load yourself with strength loads. During this period, when the body is exhausted, it is best to do yoga or light gymnastics. In addition, you need to sleep at least 8 hours a day and walk in the fresh air more often.

Many people these days notice that they have no appetite at all. What to do in such a situation? Before taking any action, it is necessary to find out what is the reason for the absolute lack of hunger.

Why did my appetite disappear?

Loss of appetite is not always associated with some serious illnesses. We identify several of the most common causes of this condition:

1. Overeating. No matter how much has been written and said about the benefits balanced nutrition, only a few monitor the number of calories. In addition, many people are accustomed to eating everything on their plate, even if they no longer feel like it. And others are accustomed to constant snacking “in between times.” All this leads to the fact that when the time comes for the next meal, the body simply does not need additional calories, and the feeling of hunger does not wake up.

2. Poor quality food. This is another reason why there is no appetite. What to do in this case? Firstly, give up fast food, sandwiches, chips and other unhealthy “goodies”. Abuse of sweet, fatty and dry foods leads to the fact that the secretion of the digestive glands is disrupted, a phenomenon called reflux occurs (food is thrown back into the higher sections of the gastrointestinal tract), and fermentation and putrefaction processes begin in the intestines. As a result, permanent background discomfort arises, due to which a person physically cannot experience the feeling of hunger.

3. Overwork and stress. Physical and emotional fatigue, worries, feelings of depression - all this completely discourages the craving for food. Therefore, be sure to ensure that the loads in your daily routine are reasonably alternated with rest, both active and passive.

4. Diseases of the digestive system. Peptic ulcer, gastritis, cholecystitis, enterocolitis and others lead to digestive disorders, which also lead to loss of appetite.

5. Pregnancy. In the first trimester, women often do not feel hungry due to toxicosis. And on recent months A very common situation is when the uterus puts pressure on the stomach, reducing its volume. As a result, even after consumption small quantity food, a feeling of fullness arises, which creates the illusion of lack of appetite.

As for serious diseases, then, of course, the absence of hunger can be a symptom of one of them. However, as a rule, serious illnesses bring with them a whole “bouquet” unpleasant signs(general weakness, rapid causeless weight loss and others). Therefore, you should not worry ahead of time, it is better to analyze again all other reasons and think about what is the reason for your indifferent attitude towards food.

So, you understand what you have in Lately no appetite. What to do? Official and ethnoscience offer several recommendations for those who want to regain their normal appetite.

First, review your diet. Your diet should be complete so that your body receives all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals it needs. Best to eat homemade food, steamed or boiled dishes. Your menu must include fruits, vegetables, juices and dairy products. It is important to avoid snacking and not overeating. It’s not for nothing that doctors so insistently advise eating in small portions, but often (5-6 times a day).

There is one more trick that will help you overcome your lack of appetite. "What to do?" - you ask? Everything is extremely simple. There is even a special concept in cooking - “aperitif”. To put it simply in simple language, is an appetizer that is eaten before main courses to improve appetite. Ideal as an aperitif is a salad from fresh vegetables, a few spoons savory snacks or a slice of lemon.

Don't underestimate spices as your helpers. They not only improve the aromatic and taste qualities dishes, but also very healthy. Many of them help digestive system digest food better, cleanse blood vessels and blood, break down bad cholesterol, saturate the body with vitamins. For example, horseradish improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and helps in the treatment of kidney and liver diseases, and Bay leaf strengthens immune system. Literally each of the spices known to us has its own beneficial properties, which you can use for yourself.

Do not panic if you already partially know what to do in such situations. But, in addition to all of the above, the problem may lie in abnormal level blood sugar and lack of certain vitamins (in particular vitamin C). Therefore, it will be useful to start drinking ascorbic acid. A tablet of this remedy must be taken 30-40 minutes before. before the meal.

Some people seeking to increase food cravings resort to pharmaceutical bitters. They are sold over the counter and act as irritants to the stomach receptors, thereby increasing appetite.

There are also folk recipes which will help you if you have no appetite. What to do and how to take them? Here are the main tools that help cope with the problem in most cases:

Pour a teaspoon of crushed wormwood into a glass of boiling water. The infusion must be kept for half an hour before use, and then drink a tablespoon of the medicine before meals (3 rubles/day).

We buy crushed dandelion roots. Pour two teaspoons of raw material into a glass of cold water and leave for 8 hours. The product is taken four times a day, a quarter glass.

It is necessary to squeeze the juice out of four carrots and a bunch of watercress, dilute the resulting liquid clean water in a 1:1 ratio. Take before meals.

When should you see a doctor?

If, in addition to the lack of natural hunger, you observe other alarming symptoms(pain, weakness, nausea, weight loss), you should not waste time trying to cope with the problem at home. It is better to undergo an examination as quickly as possible and find out why the body malfunctioned, and then undergo the appropriate course of treatment.

To the question: “An adult has no appetite, why?” there are many answers.

Nutrient deficiencies are a must will affect not only your well-being, but also your health. Therefore, the problem of their absence needs to be solved as soon as possible. How to increase appetite and why did it disappear?

The difference between hunger and appetite

Before diagnosing loss of appetite, it is important to understand the concept. Appetite is often confused with hunger, a reflex that occurs in the absence of food.

The mechanism of hunger development is triggered by a decrease in glucose levels, which causes a signal to be sent to the centers of the brain. When a hunger spasm occurs, a person actively salivates, their sense of smell improves, and pulling sensation"in the pit of the stomach"

All these symptoms help a person feel hungry and go in search of food. At the same time, he has no desire to eat certain foods; he is ready to eat any dish.

The manifestation of hunger, in which a person desires certain foods, is called appetite. This feeling is influenced by many factors: time of day, country of residence, taste preferences, emotional state.

A violation of habitual taste needs, when a person does not want food at all, is called a decrease in appetite. This condition leads to anorexia and other problems.

Associated symptoms

The brain sends a signal that the body needs to take food. It contains neurons that carry a signal to the digestive organs.

In the body of an individual experiencing a feeling of hunger, Insulin levels are increased and gastric juice is actively produced. The absence of hunger indicates that the brain is working on other needs. Decreased appetite is a protection against certain diseases of the digestive system.

There are symptoms that often accompany a person with lack of appetite. Nausea and weakness are the most famous of them. Thanks to these signs, it is easier for doctors to determine the cause of loss of appetite.

Causes of decreased appetite

All the reasons why appetite disappears can be divided into two categories: pathological and non-pathological.

Pathological causes

Most often, poor appetite in adults indicates illness.

To forget about problems with appetite, you will need professional help.

TO pathological reasons decreased appetite include:

Intestinal dysbiosis. Beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms. If their balance is disturbed, the body does not receive necessary microelements from food.
Endocrine problems. Lack of hormones leads to nausea and vomiting. As a result, the person becomes weak and loses appetite.
Chronic gastrointestinal diseases. Similar symptoms indicate a stomach ulcer, gastritis,. At the first signs of exacerbation of diseases, you should undergo preventive treatment.
Mental problems, neuroses. High workload, stress, lack of rest and moral support lead to apathy and depression. These problems are often accompanied by weakness, nausea, fatigue and lack of appetite.
Intoxication of the body. Harmful bacteria can provoke intoxication, as a result of which a person will feel weak and aversion to food.
Cardiovascular diseases. Wear and tear of blood vessels provokes general weakness body, and high blood pressure causes nausea.
Drug addiction. Necessity constant admission medicines forces gastrointestinal tract work hard. Because of this, gastritis, ulcers, and pancreatic pathologies may appear.
Oncology. During chemotherapy, many processes malfunction, especially in the functioning of the digestive organs.
Viruses and infections in the body. When illness occurs, there is often a significant decrease in appetite, as energy is directed toward fighting viruses. To a large number of toxins did not lead to weakness and nausea, should be maintained water balance, namely drink plenty of fluids.

Non-pathological causes

Natural reasons cause a situation in which a person refuses to eat.

They do not depend on any disease, as they arise due to external pathogenic factors.

Distinctive features non-pathological reasons:

the duration of the symptoms does not exceed 4-5 days, then the increase in appetite occurs independently;
need not health care, taking medications;
absent Negative influence for health;
symptoms recur no more than once a month;
loss of appetite does not lead to sudden weight loss.

The list of non-pathological causes includes the following conditions:

Menstruation. In this period female body particularly susceptible to the influence of hormones. Sharp rise levels of estrogen and progesterone provoke weakness and loss of appetite. At the end of the cycle, abdominal cramps and headaches are often added to these symptoms.
Binge eating. Absence good nutrition during the day leads to an increase in appetite at night. The gastrointestinal tract organs were not exposed to stress all day, so in the evening, when preparing the body for sleep, the food consumed can cause bad dream, nausea and vomiting. All this will lead to a decrease in appetite.
Prolonged fasting. If a person voluntarily refuses to eat, this can cause nausea and weakness. Since food does not enter for a long time, the secretion produced negatively affects the mucous membrane, irritating it. In the absence of food, performance decreases and weakness and loss of strength appear.

Diagnosis of poor appetite

Normal functioning is ensured by balance, which is an alternation of feelings of hunger and appetite. Violation normal condition for any reason leads to a decrease in appetite, and then a feeling of hunger.

Eating foods with high calorie content can increase the interval between the onset of the desire to eat to 4-5 hours.

However, if hunger does not come for more than 8 hours, this is a signal that problems have appeared in the body.

A decrease in blood glucose levels will cause dizziness, weakness, and loss of strength.

To diagnose the cause of loss of appetite, you should consult a doctor. He will appoint full examination body, including testing. If a woman has a problem with appetite, pregnancy should first be ruled out.

Video - How to gain weight when you have no appetite?

What can you do to increase your appetite?

The reasons that provoked the loss of appetite and were identified during diagnosis are eliminated therapeutic methods. Parallel Doctors advise the patient to adhere to the following recommendations:

Follow a meal schedule. You need to eat several times a day in small portions. You should have dinner no later than three hours before bedtime. Eating at a specific time every day will help produce saliva and prepare the body to absorb food.
Food should be chewed slowly, without being distracted by extraneous stimuli (TV, computer). You should use attractive table settings, work on beautiful design dishes.
Food should be tasty and varied.
When fighting poor appetite It is very important to follow a daily routine: sleep at least eight hours, do not forget about rest. Physical activity in mild form welcome, as sport stimulates the urge to eat.
Stress should be avoided conflict situations, bad emotions.
In order for digestive juice to be produced more actively, you need to eat foods that stimulate this process, for example, pickled and salty foods. Spices increase appetite, spicy seasonings, herbs, sour berries, products with high content vitamins B and C, decoctions and infusions of bitter herbs.

Loss of appetite in old age

Lack of need to eat and persistent loss of appetite can occur in older people. Pensioners often limit themselves to healthy and nutritious foods due to financial problems. In addition, with age, it weakens, diarrhea begins, and the functioning of the receptors worsens. The body begins to digest food poorly.

The above factors affect appetite. To avoid problems with the gastrointestinal tract, you need to increase the number of easily digestible foods. The menu should include vegetable stew, porridge, fish, meat low-fat varieties. Older people should avoid fatty and fried foods, avoid eating large portions, and use a blender to puree food if necessary.

How to increase your child's appetite

Adults often have problems feeding their baby due to his refusal to eat. To increase children's appetite, you can take the following measures:

create an optimal diet age appropriate and the characteristics of the child;
maintain a meal schedule;
spend several hours a day in the fresh air;
include outdoor games and sports in the daily routine;
attractively design children's dishes;
add fruits and dried fruits to porridge;
do not force feed the child;
do not overfeed the baby;
reduce the number of snacks on cookies and other starchy foods;
Place small portions on a plate.

If the lack of appetite continues for several days, you should not look for the cause and treat it yourself. The specialist will quickly determine what is causing the loss of appetite and prescribe medications to increase it.