Loss of Appetite
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Loss of appetite
Decreased appetite
Don't feel like eating
Not eating as much as usual due to a lack of appetite
About the Symptom
Loss of appetite occurs when the desire to eat is lost.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Melena (black stools)
- Vomiting of blood
- Photophobia
- Unexplained weight loss of 5% or more in 1 month
- Recent weight loss
- Edema
- Jaundice
- Fever
- Gross hematuria
Possible Causes
Generally, Loss of appetite can be related to:
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum
A severe form of morning sickness, where patients have significant vomiting and are typically unable to keep much food or fluids down. They can lose weight and become very dehydrated. The exact cause is unclear, but it's thought to be related to levels of pregnancy hormones (β-hCG and estrogen). Early treatment of morning sickness can help prevent progression to this severe form. There is typically no harm to the developing baby from this condition, but it is important to maintain normal hydration and weight in the mom.
- Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis involves widespread inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, resulting in damage to nerve fibers and their protective linings. It is a result of inflammation that occurs after after an infection or immunization. While it can affect anyone it is more common in children.
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Loss of appetite may be related to these serious diseases:
- Cyclic Vomiting
A condition with repeated and severe vomiting. Patients may become very unwell due to dehydration and starvation. The exact cause is unknown, but known triggers include emotional stress, anxiety, or viral illnesses.
- Acute Cholangitis
- Encephalitis / Encephalopathy
- Acute Gastric Volvulus
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
- Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
- Electrolyte Imbalance
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Have you experienced a loss of appetite recently?
- When did you first notice the loss of appetite?
- How would you describe your level of appetite loss?
- How is your loss of appetite now?
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Jan 30, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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