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· 24 Jan 2022

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Why Don't I Get Hungry?

#Hunger is a feeling of feeling to eat, and it is a natural body process. Hunger works to remind us that our body needs glucose to function properly. Ideally, our bodies depend on the food that we eat to produce energy. This energy is then used to fuel cells, muscles, and tissues. Many body mechanisms regulate hunger and woks to remind us we need to eat. One thing you should know is that hunger and appetite co-exist and once one is affected, the other one also ceases to operate normally. However, sometimes people cannot feel hungry for a variety of reasons. But have you ever wondered what regulates hunger levels in the body? If not, here are the mechanisms that trigger hunger: reduced levels of blood sugar, an empty stomach, and intestines, increase in certain hormones that regulate hunger, and activities of the hypothalamus in the brain. When you become extremely hungry, your stomach grumbles constantly. Other symptoms of hunger include Weakness, poor concentration, irritability, and feelings of fainting. This blog will shed more light on what causes poor appetite and makes you not feel hungry. The reasons are:



Age. Our bodies comprise many systems that function differently for a common good. When we are young, these systems work well and that is why people can do so many activities during their youthful years. Unfortunately, as people grow older, these systems grow old too and therefore become weak. The gastrointestinal system (mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines) also suffers because of aging. Scientists teach that 15-30% of old people experience age-related appetite decline as time goes by. One thing you should know is that when you grow old, some tools that enable us to eat well also decrease in function. For example, most old people suffer from dental problems, meaning that they cannot chew food as much. Also, some taste buds and senses of smell get affected, making the old people disinterested in food. Old people also have reduced levels of saliva production, reduction of hormones that regulate hunger, and also many of them suffer from chronic illnesses. It is also possible to realize that old people don’t work as much and therefore this reduces their need for much energy, making them eat less. When all these factors are combined, it is obvious for such people not to feel hungry.



Pregnancy. It is a dream of many women to have children. Many times, we are taught that children are a blessing and make life more fulfilling. We are to understand the obvious way that women get children of their own is through pregnancy. Pregnancy is a journey that involves a lot of self-sacrifices, time, and energy. The entire process is usually regulated by many hormones, but the major ones are estrogen and progesterone. These hormones interfere with many body functions, including eating habits. They trigger unwanted symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and heartburn, which reduces the need to eat. Many people think that when women get pregnant eat a lot, right? It is true, but it does not happen to all women. Some enjoy a smooth pregnancy, but there are also ones who suffer from severe vomiting and loss of appetite.



Stress Levels. We all encounter stress in our lives. It is common to be worried about so many things such as finances, relationships, family, work, school, etc. What some people don’t know is that when we get overwhelmed with negative emotions and stress, our appetite reduces. There are various stress types and each of these types affects the human body differently. For example, acute stress that triggers fight-or-flight reactions can cause a sudden decrease in hunger, even if one was feeling hungry before the event. Any form of stress triggers anxiety, emotional, and psychological changes to help your body adapt to the situation. These changes affect many body organs, including the stomach, and therefore you can end up losing your appetite. Once stress levels are reduced, you adjust and return your appetite to normal.



Some Types of Medications. Most medications that we take to treat various diseases usually have side effects. The side effects are the negative consequences we experience after taking some types of medications. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and bloating. Medications such as antibiotics, antihypertensives, diuretics, and others produce side effects that affect the gastrointestinal system and other organs as well. For example, taking cytotoxic drugs (drugs used in chemotherapy to treat cancer cells) has very severe consequences on our appetite levels. Cancer treatment, chemotherapy, and radiation are usually targeted to kill the cells that cause cancer within the body. Unfortunately, these treatment options kill the good cells and kill bad ones. They affect the cells in the mouth, in particular, making cancer patients lose their taste for food. As humans, taste is very important because it stimulates our appetite and enables us to eat various types of foods. So, when we cannot feel the taste and sweetness of food automatically, we lose appetite and cannot feel hungry. Also, this treatment causes fatigue and nausea, two factors that limit how much we can eat.



Anemia. Anemia is a condition that happens because of the reduced number of red blood cells in the body. Red blood cells are very important because they carry oxygen and transport it to the rest of the body. This oxygen contains glucose as well to nourish various body cells. Your body depends on this oxygen to keep you functional. This means that when cells, muscles, and other major organs cannot get adequate oxygen, they work less and less, and this in return produces fatigue. One thing you should know is that eating requires energy because it is an activity, too. It also involves a lot of muscles and cells that depend on energy to help you taste, chew, and digest food. So, when you are tired, it means that you lack this energy and therefore you lose your appetite. Anemia causes weakness, feelings of fainting, and reduced appetite.



Diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic illness that has affected many people in society. In fact, according to the statistics, approximately 537 million adults (20-79 years) were living with diabetes in 2021. Again, this number is expected to rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. Researchers have also added that 3 in 4 adults with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries, but this does not mean the disease is not common in developed countries. Too much sugar damages many organs, including nerves that regulate many body functions. If not well treated, it affects the vagus nerve, which plays a major role in digestion and proper functioning of the stomach and the intestines. The vagus nerve controls the stomach muscles and therefore when it’s affected, so many digestive problems happen. As a result, people develop a condition known as gastroparesis, which makes the stomach muscles go into paralysis. This means that when you eat food, it just remains in the stomach undigested, and this causes bloating because the food does not move through the digestive tract. In the end, you lose appetite and therefore you cannot feel hungry.



Depression. Depression happens because of many factors that affect mental status. The condition can make you eat excessively, hence end up gaining weight. For others, depression can cause a loss of appetite and severe weight loss. Depression stimulates your brain to realize a hormone known as corticotropin-releasing factor(CRF). This hormone interacts with other body mechanisms and makes you feel less hungry. When you lack appetite, it is also possible to lose interest in cooking as well. As depression becomes severe, other symptoms also arise, changing your mood, feelings, and interactions with others. For more tips on the causes of poor appetite and how to improve it, check here:

https://www.healthline.com/health/why-am-i-not-hungry#about -hunger

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/why-am-i-never-hungry#psychological -causes

Conclusion. Hunger is a normal body process, and it works for the benefit of the human body. We feel hungry when our bodies go low in glucose levels. A lack of appetite and failure to feel hungry can be caused by a variety of factors that can either be mental, physical, or even psychological. Physical conditions like pregnancy, diabetes, cancer, and more can cause a decrease in appetite. Also, mental conditions like anxiety, depression, and stress can lead to negative effects on hunger levels. If you are not feeling hungry most often, there are tips you can adopt to help stimulate your appetite. They include: Eating foods rich in flavors and pleasant smells, eating smaller meals full of calories to give you energy, enjoying eating foods you love and having appetizers as well. With these measures in place, you can gain your appetite and lead a normal life. If the symptoms do not improve, consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

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