Find out what’s causing that poor appetite

In a world full of people who are looking for ways to lose weight, we tend to forget those who are dealing with issues on the other end of the scale; people who would love to enjoy their meals to the full but find themselves plagued with poor appetite.

Sometimes, the problem can be so severe that it causes remarkable weight loss.

Causes of poor appetite include:

Anorexia nervosa

This is a medical condition in which a person has a distorted sense of self-image.

They wrongly think they are too heavy even when they are extremely thin. They have an intense fear of gaining weight and will often starve themselves.

With time, the mind adjusts itself to the poor feeding conditions.

Sickness

Any illness can reduce your appetite. Common causes of long-term poor appetite include infections, hormonal issues involving the thyroid, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, dental issues, head injuries, kidney and liver problems.

Alcoholism

Alcoholism is often associated with poor feeding. It is not uncommon to find an alcoholic forfeiting meals and instead opting for drinks.

(Alcoholism should not be mistaken for alcohol abuse and binge drinking which is very common in Kenya. Binge drinking is where you drink in excess for one or two days a week but during the rest of the week alcohol intake is minimal or none at all).

Medication

Heart medication, certain antibiotics, chemotherapy(cancer treatment), cough and cold drugs can cause lack of appetite.

Elderly

Poor appetite in the elderly is as a result of a combination of things including medical conditions, medication and mental health issues that arise as one ages.

Mental health issues

Depression and anxiety are common causes of poor appetite. Milder everyday stresses can also cause reduced appetite.

Anaemia

When you have a low amount of a special part of blood called haemoglobin, you have a condition known as anaemia.

This is can be associated with poor appetite and in severe cases, you can become dizzy and weak. Anaemia is usually caused by lack of iron and vitamin B in the diet.

A quick way of checking for anaemia is by looking at your palms. If they are very pale, you may be suffering from anaemia.

Vitamin and mineral deficiency

Lack of adequate vitamins and minerals in your diet may lead to poor appetite. Minerals and vitamins are found in abundance in fruits and vegetables.

Cancer

One of the first symptoms cancer patients report is poor appetite. Common cancers associated with poor appetite include ovarian, stomach, pancreatic and intestinal (colon). In addition, cancer therapy causes lack of appetite.

Digestive problems

Digestion of food starts in the mouth and continues down to your intestines. Anything that affects any part of the digestive system can lead to poor appetite.

These include mouth, stomach and intestinal ulcers, infections, inflamed intestines and problems with digestive juices.

Taste problems

People with problems with taste or smell usually tend to have poorer appetites than normal. Taste can be affected by ageing, smoking, medication and surgery. Smell triggers appetite.

If you smell something very appealing, you are more likely to eat more of it than usual. If you smell something unpleasant, your appetite for it naturally goes down. (You may have noticed you do not enjoy your meals as much when you have a stuffy nose, cold or flu).

Pregnancy

The first three months of pregnancy may be associated with poor appetite. This usually clears once gets into the second part of the pregnancy.

How about children?

A common complaint among parents with children who are thinner than their age mates is that ‘he/she does not have a good appetite’ or ‘he is a poor eater’.

What parents don’t always realise is that as long as a child is growing within the normal limits for their age group, there is usually nothing wrong with them.

Children do not usually have the ability to consistently starve themselves like adults do (they only begin to develop such habits once they realise it is upsetting their mother or father).

How to deal with the problem:

Schedule eating times

Set certain times for eating and follow them strictly. Try and eat 5-6 small meals instead of three big ones. Avoid skipping meals and going for long periods without meals. Never skip breakfast – even if you do not feel like it.

Family eating time

Eating with friends and family makes one eat more. Therefore, try and eat together as often as possible. It is particularly useful for helping children with poor appetite.

Exercise

Physical activity is a powerful appetite stimulant so try and get a daily dose of exercise. Consider practical things like climbing stairs and playing with the children or pet as exercise.

Healthy diets

Eat a diet rich in minerals and vitamins. This means you need to include lots of fruits and vegetables. In addition, ensure you get sufficient protein and whole grains from your meals.

Supplement tablets

These have vitamins and minerals and are particularly useful when you are unable to get all your nutrients from your food. These tablets should not, however, be used as a replacement for meals.

Appetite stimulants

These are available on prescription but they usually work only if your underlying medical condition has been addressed.

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