What is the Loss of Appetite? What are the Symptoms and Causes of It?

What is the loss of appetite. The loss of appetite is a problem that can be caused by various reasons and affects life negatively. What is loss of appetite that many people encounter in daily life? Please read on to learn more about the symptoms and causes.

Do you feel like you loss appetite? Don't you even want to eat delicious food? Loss of appetite, medically known as anorexia, occurs when your desire to eat anything decreases. 

There may be both psychological and physical illnesses behind your decreased appetite. If you experience loss of appetite, consequences such as weight loss and weakness may occur due to malnutrition. Therefore, you should investigate the reasons behind your loss of appetite and consult your doctor for treatment.

What are the Symptoms of Loss of Appetite?

Loss of appetite often occurs with symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, weight loss or nausea. The main symptoms of loss of appetite can be listed as follows:

1. Weight Loss

Weight loss is one of the earliest and most common symptoms of loss of appetite. This situation leads to malnutrition in some cases. If you start to lose weight very quickly, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. If your loss of appetite problem is caused by depression, alcohol and some eating disorders, you should be treated as soon as possible.

2. Reluctance to Eat

Sometimes you may not feel hungry even though you don't eat anything. Reluctance to eat at such times is one of the obvious signs of a loss of appetite.

3. Fatigue and Loss of Taste 

When you do not eat enough, weakness and fatigue occur in your body. The reason for this is not being fed enough. Besides, when you experience a loss of appetite, you may sometimes have loss of taste.

What are the Main Causes of Loss of Appetite?

Causes of loss of appetite may be due to some health problems. When the health problem causing the loss of appetite is treated, your appetite will often return to normal. It is possible to explain the causes of loss of appetite sequentially as follows:

1. Psychological Reasons

Psychological reasons and mental health problems can have a significant impact on your appetite. For example, psychological conditions such as depression, stress, panic attacks, anxiety, and eating disorders can cause loss of appetite. Besides, adults' age is one of the common causes of loss of appetite.

2. Bacteria or Viruses

Bacteria or viruses are among the most common causes of loss of appetite. Your appetite quickly returns to normal after the bacterial or viral infection condition is treated. Therefore, you do not need any significant medical treatment.

3. Medical Causes

Long-term medical problems can be a major cause of loss of appetite. Loss of appetite is also directly linked to decreased immune system function, feeling sick and stomach upset. Some conditions such as digestive problems, diabetes, asthma, heart failure, thyroid, stomach and colon cancer can cause loss of appetite.

4. Some Medications and Treatments

Some medications and treatments can be a common side effect of various digestive problems, such as constipation or diarrhea, as well as loss of appetite. This problem usually occurs when medications pass through your stomach and digestive system. Examples of drugs or treatments that cause loss of appetite are sedatives, some antibiotics, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy.

Apart from these, you may also encounter different symptoms and causes of loss of appetite (anorexia). For example, you may experience short-term loss of appetite due to food poisoning, various infections and cold. However, when your loss of appetite problem starts to be prolonged, you should definitely consult your doctor without delay.