Hungry But No Appetite, What's the Reason?

Illustration of being hungry but not having an appetite (Freepik)

YOGYAKARTA - Hungry but no appetite, why? The loss of appetite even though the stomach is hungry can be caused by many things, ranging from physical to mental factors.

According to the Better Help website, appetite is closely related to a person's mood, emotions, and conditions. Loss of appetite can occur at any time suddenly or gradually over a long period of time.

So, what is the cause? Let's find out the answer in the review below.

What Causes Hunger But No Appetite?

Still from Better Help, here are some of the reasons why a person loses their appetite even though their stomach is hungry:

Stress

Stress can make a person lose their appetite even though their stomach is hungry. When stressed, the body releases the hormone adrenaline. This substance can trigger an increase in heart rate, respiratory intensity, and spur blood flow to the muscles.

Not only that, stress can also slow down the performance of the digestive tract system which has a negative impact on health.

Depression

Depression can also make a person reluctant to eat even when they are hungry. Depression is a serious mental health disorder. If you continue to feel sad and have no appetite, don't delay consulting a doctor.

Pregnant

In the first trimester of pregnancy, many pregnant women have no appetite. This condition is generally caused by excessive nausea. To overcome it, pregnant women are advised to eat in small portions or diligently snack.

Dehydration

Dehydration is a condition when the body loses more fluid than it consumes.

Well, losing a lot of fluids can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, confusion, and even loss of appetite.

Anorexia

Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an excessive fear of gaining weight.

People with anorexia generally limit their calorie intake and the types of food they consume. As a result, they will lose weight and cannot maintain an ideal body weight according to height, age, stature, and physical health.

Anemia

What causes hunger but no appetite? This can be caused by anemia, a condition where the number of red blood cells in the body is low and does not function properly.

For information, red blood cells are tasked with circulating oxygen throughout the body. Well, oxygen is used in the process of respiration, converting food into energy, and supporting other body processes.

When the number of red blood cells in the body is low, the sufferer will feel weak, tired, and lose their appetite.

Cancer

Cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy and chemotherapy can lose their appetite.

A number of cancer therapies can make sufferers feel nauseous, or make food smell and taste strange in the mouth.

In addition, several types of cancer also cause a slowdown in metabolism, so that the sufferer often feels full and has a dry mouth.

That's the review of being hungry but not having an appetite. Get updates on other featured news only at VOI.ID.