A Reading on

LOSS OF APPETITE

In Partial Fulfillment of
The Requirements in NCM 216 – RLE

GI/ENDO/METABOLISM NURSING ROTATION

January 30, 2021

TITLE: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE NO APPETITE
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Morin, A. (2020). What to do when you have no appetite. Retrieve on January 26 from
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-do-when-you-have-no-appetite-4799769
SUMMARY:
The article about “What to do when you have no appetite” by Amy Morin, gives
an educational overview that anyone can experience loss of appetite and for many
different reasons people may have less desire to eat, lose interest in food, or feel
nauseated at the idea of eating. The article provides about the different causes, what it
means, the complications and how to treat loss of appetite.

There are physical reasons why people lost their appetite, in fact, this reason is
not usually a primary condition rather, it is a symptom of another issue of what the
person is experiencing in which it could be a sign that there may be something wrong in
your health. The author states that understanding the reason why a person has no
appetite is the key to determine on what would be the best treatment for this issue.

According to Morin, there are several mental health conditions that can impact
your appetite, anything from increased stress or grief, to a diagnosable mental illness,
may cause you to lose your desire to eat. Hence, improving your psychological well-
being can improve your appetite, and the most common psychological reasons why
people loss their appetite is by having anxiety, depression, stress, and any substance
use.

Moreover, the treatment in this condition is depending on the cause on why a

person is experiencing no desire of eating. There are some test to conduct such as
blood test or an ultrasound in the stomach, depending on the initial impressions on the
physical exam, and these tests can help to identify the root cause of loss of appetite. In
addition, when loss of appetite became part of a more serious illness, good nutrition and
maintaining a healthy weight is important part of healing.
 In conclusion, Morin elaborates about the importance of having a clear and
honest communication with your doctor as a means to have a greater understanding
about the health problems and treatments applicable to your disease condition.

REACTION:

This article emphasizes that loss of appetite should not taken for granted, as well
as it has many causes and there is a need on giving importance on treating this
symptom in avoidance on the presence of different disease complications. I agree in
this substantial article wrote by Amy Morin for the reason that she points out the
different causes, what the symptom means, the complications and how to treat loss of
appetite.

A decreased appetite occurs when a person has reduced desire to eat. Thus,
there is a wide variety of conditions that can cause appetite to decrease, these ranges
between mental and physical illnesses. And if a person develop loss of appetite, they
may also have related symptoms, such as weight loss or malnutrition. On the other
hand these can be serious if it was left untreated, so it’s important to find the reason
behind loss of appetite and ways on how to treat it.

Furthermore, there is presence of not having enough nutrition and hydration if a

person is struggling from loss of desire to eat, and this also often occurs when a person
was hospitalized due to illness or surgery. However due to the nature of the illness and
to those other people who will not consult directly to any health care, these can go
undiagnosed and that is why it is important to communicate with your doctor when in
times of having situations related to your health. From a simple loss of appetite it could
lead into more serious complication and it could lead into life threatening diseases and
as a role of a nurse having the knowledge and understanding will enable us to monitor
our patient and observe for any possible complications. And for this reason, as part of
the health care team it is essential to be vigilant when caring for patient in all care
settings in order for the recovery of our patients.
What to Do When You Have No Appetite
By 
Amy Morin, LCSW , Reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS, Updated on October
26, 2020

Food gives your body the energy it needs to stay healthy. Your brain and your gut work
together to determine when you need to eat and when you’re full. When you have no
appetite, it’s a sign that there may be something wrong.
The loss of appetite may stem from a variety of physical or psychological causes.
Understanding the reason why you have no appetite is key to determining how to best
treat the issue.
Physical Reasons You've Lost Your Appetite
The loss of appetite isn’t usually a primary condition. Instead, it’s a symptom of another
issue. Sometimes, the cause is fleeting—such as in the case of a stomach bug. But at
other times, it can be longer-lasting and may require treatment.

 Aging: Appetite often changes with age. Older people may lack interest in food
due to changing taste buds, dementia, health problems, medication side effects,
or mental health problems. Sometimes elderly people eat less because they’ve
decreased their activity level and have fewer caloric needs.
 Anemia: Anemia occurs when there is an abnormally low level of blood. Loss of
appetite and weight loss can both be a sign of anemia, especially if these
symptoms are combined with fatigue.
 Cancer: Appetite loss is common among individuals with cancer. It may be
directly linked to the illness, especially when associated with cancers of the
digestive tract, like stomach, pancreatic, lung, or ovarian. Appetite loss may also
be a side effect of cancer treatments.
 Cold / Flu: There are a variety of stomach bugs that lead to appetite loss.
Appetite usually returns quickly, however, when the cold or flu has resolved.
 Diabetes: Individuals with diabetes may not feel hungry for several reasons.
Sometimes, food moves too slowly through the digestive tract because high
glucose levels damage the vagus nerve. Untreated high blood sugar may also
cause high levels of ketones to build in the blood and urine.
 Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism may suppress the desire to eat. It may also
lead to weight gain, despite fewer calories being consumed.
  Infections: Infections may affect a person’s desire to eat. When the infection
clears, the appetite returns.
 Medication: Although there are many medications that may lead to decreased
appetite, sleeping pills, antibiotics, blood pressure medications, diuretics,
anabolic steroids, and painkillers are among the most common. They may cause
nausea and fatigue as well.
 Pain: Severe pain can cause you to feel too sick to eat. Migraine, stomach pain,
or other types of pain may cause you to lose interest in food.
 Pregnancy: Expectant mothers may experience nausea and loss of appetite,
especially early on in pregnancy.
 Stomach issues:Stomach issues, especially digestive conditions like irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s disease, may decrease appetite.

Mental Health Conditions That Impact Your

Appetite
There are several mental health conditions that may affect your appetite. Anything from
increased stress or grief, to a diagnosable mental illness, may cause you to lose your
desire to eat.
Improving your psychological well-being can improve your appetite. Here are some of
the most common psychological reasons people lose their appetite:

 Anxiety: Some people with anxiety become so overwhelmed with worry they

lose their desire to eat.
 Depression: Individuals with clinical depression may lose interest in everything
—including food. They may lack the energy to prepare meals and may have little
interest in eating. They may also experience nausea.
 Stress: The body’s physical response to stress often suppresses appetite
(although some people experience the opposite effect—they overeat when
stressed out). Physical symptoms associated with stress are common, such as
nausea or the sensation of a “knot in the stomach” which makes food
unappealing.
 Substance Use: While some people gain weight from their substance use,
others lose it. Drug or alcohol use may decrease an individual’s appetite.

If you’ve lost your appetite for a few days, there is likely nothing to worry about. It’s
normal to experience minor fluctuations in appetite over time. But if it lasts more than a
few days, or if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue, pain, or vomiting,
contact your physician.
How It's Treated
The treatment for the loss of appetite depends on the cause. Your physician will likely
ask questions about how often you eat, how you feel after eating, whether your weight
has changed, or how long your appetite has been an issue.
Your physician may choose to run tests, such as blood tests or an ultrasound of your
stomach, depending on the initial impressions from your interview and physical exam.
Tests can help identify the root cause of your loss of appetite.
When loss of appetite is part of a more serious illness, good nutrition and maintaining a
healthy weight may be very important to healing. Therefore, a physician may make it a
top priority to help you get your appetite back as soon as possible.
Depending on the diagnosis, your physician may recommend the following for
treatment:

 A better sleep schedule
 A special diet that will help maintain proper nutrition
 Improved self-care
 Increased physical activity
 Medication to increase your appetite
 Talk therapy

In some cases, you may be referred to a dietitian who can assist you with meal planning
and symptom management. You might be asked to eat several small meals each day or
to cut out certain foods while adding others. A dietitian can also advise you on
nutritional supplements that may help ensure that you’re getting all the nutrients you
need.

A Word From Verywell

The prognosis for loss of appetite depends heavily on the cause. For some, it’s a mild
issue that resolves on its own. For others, it can become a serious life-threatening
problem that requires intensive medical intervention.
Whether you or someone you love has no appetite, a lack of interest in food and weight
loss can be scary. But don’t ignore the issue if it lasts more than a few days.
It might not be a big deal, yet it also might be a sign of an underlying condition that
needs treatment. Talk to your physician about any changes in appetite, and learn how
to best address the issue.