Overeating

About the Symptom

Increased appetite is an excessive desire for food.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Visual field defect
• Altered mental status (delirium)
• double vision
• Recent weight loss
• Disorder of consciousness

Possible Causes

Generally, Overeating can be related to:

• Drug-Induced Obesity

  Drug-induced weight gain is a side effect of many commonly used drugs, such as long-term steroid medication. This often leads to obesity-related health problems. Due to the weight gain, some patients discontinue the medication.

• Obesity

  Obesity (overweight) results from a combination of factors such as overeating, insufficient exercise, and genetic factors.

• Cushing's Syndrome

  This condition is caused by excessive amounts of a hormone called cortisol. It may be caused by the consumption of some steroid medications or the body producing too much cortisol because of a tumor. It can present with a fatty hump between the shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on the skin. Cushing syndrome also can cause high blood pressure bone loss or diabetes.

• Graves' Disease
• Sleep Apnea Syndrome
• Pregnancy
• Hyperthyroidism
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Anorexia Nervosa / Bulimia Nervosa

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Overeating may be related to these serious diseases:

• Brain Tumor

  A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells in the brain. They can be cancerous or non-cancerous. Cancerous brain tumors can start in the brain (primary tumor) or spread from another cancerous organ (secondary tumor). Primary brain tumors are caused by abnormal changes in the DNA of brain cells.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Are you eating more than usual?
• How has the increase in appetite changed since it started?
• How long have you had an increase in appetite or a larger appetite?

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