For many of us, the most fascinated period of the day is ‘Meal Time’.  Some of us plan our day around the food we want and like to eat (not even joking). But some days we just don’t feel hungry enough to eat whether it is our favourite meal. Appetite or hunger is developed when the body is running low on energy and this instinct is controlled by the hypothalamus part of the brain.

Apart from factors such as, changes in blood sugar and hormone levels; below mentioned are some of the significant causes which are also responsible for an inadequate hunger or loss of appetite:

• Anxiety

Anxiety releases certain hormones that slow down the digestion. Furthermore, hunger is also affected by symptoms like nausea which is caused due to anxiety disorder.

• Depression

Multiple studies have found that depression largely impacts certain parts of the brain that regulate the physiological state of the body, including appetite and hunger. Basically, if you are not feeling fine mentally, this is going to reflect on your physical health as well.

• Stress

Acute stress – a type of stress has found to negatively impact one’s desire to eat by stimulating nausea and indigestion. Hence, appetite is directly influenced by the stress.

• Some sort of illness

Illnesses like the flu or a stomach bug can cause nausea and can further result into loss of appetite. Some respiratory diseases negatively affect sense of smell and makes the intake of  food an unpleasant experience for them.

• Pregnancy

Pregnancy commonly leads to problems like reduction in hunger and also creates repulsion from certain foods and smells.

• Medications

A lot of medicines such as antibiotics, antihypertensive, sedatives and medical treatments like radiation and chemotherapy have found to have side effects like fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite.

However, experts have found some tactics that can be used to boost one’s appetite if one is  not feeling hungry too often:

• Prepare or order meals with flavors or dishes you like

A food which is cooked with a variety of different herbs and spices is often more appealing to senses. The more flavourful the meal is, the more encouraged an individual is to intake it.

Even if it is not a very healthy meal, one should  not restrain themselves from having it. It may sometimes result into positive eating.

• Smaller meals with sufficient calories

Do not indulge in forceful eating. Instead, it is advisable to eat smaller meals that are packed with enough calories to fulfil the body’s energy requirement.

• Taking Help for your Mental Health

As mentioned above, loss of appetite can be due to mental health concerns and hence it is extremely important to seek help from a certified mental health professional.

• Set Reminders

It may be important for some people to constantly remind themselves that they have to eat. It is advisable to keep a reminder of the meals or snacks you are supposed to eat in a day.

It is not always that a loss in appetite is a cause for concern but if one is accompanied by symptoms like difficulty in swallowing,  unable to eat for extended periods of time, frequent feeling of nausea, pain while ingesting food and unnecessary weight loss; then one should consult a doctor soon as possible.