Lack of appetite in children, adolescents and adults - causes, how to deal with it?

Lack of appetite leads to weight loss and causes deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates, so you should always consult a doctor if you lose your appetite. If we also don’t drink liquids, we can also become dehydrated.

What to do in the absence of appetite?

The first steps in case of lack of appetite for more than 2-3 days should be referred to the family doctor, who will interview the patient and recommend basic laboratory tests, i.e. blood and urine tests. Prolonged lack of appetite is a threat to the body, so eating disorders that can occur in people of all ages should not be underestimated. Lack of appetite is especially dangerous for infants, young children, the chronically ill and the elderly, as it leads to a rapid weakening of the body, resulting in, among other things, immune disorders. In the case of people from risk groups, urgent medical advice is necessary.

We distinguish many different causes of lack of appetite, however, sometimes lack of appetite can be due to, for example, increased consumption of snacks, sweets and sugary juices, so if an eating disorder is suspected, a food diary should be kept. Each serving of food and drink consumed should be recorded in it for at least 5 days. Recording every meal, snack, and drink often reveals that we are not dealing with a typical lack of appetite.

Lack of appetite is a symptom of many diseases, including eating disorders that can develop as a result of chronic stress, overwork, emotional disorders, problems with the digestive system. Eating disorders can also be caused by medications and the use of stimulants such as smoking and alcohol abuse.

When should you worry about lack of appetite?

A short-term lack of appetite is not a cause for concern, as it is often associated, for example, with a developing infection and stressful situations. Lack of appetite can also be caused by high ambient temperatures - if we have no appetite in hot weather, we should take care to increase the amount of fluid intake and often reach for, for example, fruit or fruit and vegetable smoothies and sour milk drinks. Anorexia often occurs along with other symptoms. This includes general weakness, a feeling of low energy, abdominal pain, respiratory problems such as runny nose and cough - these symptoms indicate a viral or bacterial infection.

Loss of appetite is one of the common symptoms of colds, flu, and gastrointestinal illnesses such as rotavirus infection. If the loss of appetite persists for a long time and is not accompanied by other symptoms, then we have serious reasons for concern, as a prolonged lack of appetite may indicate the development of gastrointestinal diseases, food allergies, and even cancer. Prolonged lack of appetite can also be associated with neurotic disorders. Lack of appetite is also one of the first symptoms of depression and anorexia, not only in teenagers.

Lack of appetite should bother us when we stop feeling cravings even for previously favorite foods and when the reluctance to eat is accompanied by a sharp weight loss, as well as:

• gagging when trying to eat food

• abdominal pain,

• headache,

• swallowing problems

• taste disorder

• sour, bitter, or salty taste in the mouth

• disorders of saliva secretion,

• other digestive disorders (constipation, diarrhea, vomiting after eating).

Possible Causes of Lack of Appetite in Infants and Young Children

Loss of appetite in infants and young children is always an indication for visiting a pediatrician. It can be caused, for example, by rhinitis, which in infants significantly reduces the possibility of free breastfeeding and bottle feeding, the development of infection, food allergies and food intolerances, and serious diseases. Continuous monitoring of weight gain is necessary in case of loss or decrease in appetite in infants. If your child is gaining weight, it is worth paying attention to the number of snacks he gets and the amount of milk he gets between meals when expanding his diet. The small capacity of a baby’s stomach means that on-demand feeding during dietary expansion can significantly reduce appetite for soups, cereals, and other dishes with a new texture and taste for the baby.

Young children often refuse to eat, which is associated, for example, with periods of rebellion, changes in the life of the baby, as well as imitating the behavior of older siblings and peers from the preschool group. Children can also develop food neophobia, which is an aversion to new foods. It is worth knowing that forcing a child to eat, as well as constantly running after a baby with food and snacks, can be counterproductive, since the child, having noticed the interest of others, begins to take advantage of the situation. In both infants and young children, if there is no appetite, a doctor should be consulted. It is also necessary to perform tests that will identify possible pathological causes of nutritional problems. If the health of the baby is not satisfactory, it is worth consulting with a child psychologist about nutritional problems.

Possible Causes of Lack of Appetite in Teenagers

Lack of appetite in teenagers can also have many causes. And in this case, we can deal with alimentary neophobia and various health problems, as well as emotional disorders, from which an increasing percentage of adolescents suffer. In adolescents, lack of appetite is often associated with problems experienced by a teenage child.

School stress, setbacks, love competitions, bullying from peers, and lack of acceptance from the environment significantly affect the child’s appetite. Eating disorders caused by stress are also indicated by nagging pains in the abdomen that occur, for example, before going to school. It is worth being vigilant when a teenager suddenly changes his eating habits, goes on a diet and is dissatisfied with the appearance of his body. Lack of appetite and refusal to eat may indicate the onset of anorexia. In this case, it is necessary to perform control tests that will help identify the cause of the loss of appetite.

If there is a lack of appetite, a sudden change in behavior, such as a bad mood, and isolation from peers, psychological counseling may be needed, as eating problems can be emotional in nature.

Possible Causes of Lack of Appetite in Adults

Lack of appetite in adults is mainly due to stressful situations and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as gastroesophageal reflux, gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome. In the absence of appetite in an adult leading a busy lifestyle, a decrease in appetite may also be associated with mental and physical exhaustion, neurotic disorders, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and other diseases.

It is worth remembering that a decrease in appetite can also be associated with dietary errors and the use of stimulants, which can cause taste disturbance. It happens that the unwillingness to eat arises from the monotonous diet and the unwillingness to prepare and eat food on their own. Daily eating habits are also important - if we crave sugary snacks, sodas, sugary juices, and energy drinks, we don’t need healthy foods because our bodies require simple, sugar-rich foods above all else.

Similarly, the abuse of nicotine and alcohol, as well as the use of other stimulants, has a similar effect on appetite. In adults, lack of appetite is often the result of depressed mood and emotional disturbances, and results from, for example, separations, relationship problems, and occupational problems. Among the reasons for the lack of appetite, it is also worth mentioning stress at work and typical everyday problems.

Moreover, a sudden lack of appetite can cause diseases of the central nervous system, thyroid disease, gastritis and cancer. It is worth paying attention to situations in which there are problems with appetite. An alarming signal should be a decrease in appetite in adults - if it persists for a long time and causes weight loss, then it is necessary to undergo an examination.

Possible Causes of Lack of Appetite in Older People

Elderly people often suffer from lack of appetite. In older people, as a result of lack of appetite, the body quickly weakens and the symptoms of diseases characteristic of old age intensify. Why do older people refuse to eat? There are many reasons for lack of appetite in older people. Common causes of decreased appetite in the elderly include:

• slow intestinal peristalsis,

• taking a lot of drugs,

• lack of physical activity

• emotional disorders associated with feelings of loneliness and social isolation,

• taste disorder

• diseases of organs and systems of the body,

• problems with chewing food

• swallowing problems.

Anorexia in old age is a side effect of emotional disturbances, depressed mood and taste disturbances in the elderly. Lack of appetite in the elderly is not the only problem of the elderly. As a result of metabolic slowdown, bodily dysfunction and changes in the central nervous system associated with the natural aging process, older people often experience unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms, such as stomach tightness and abdominal pain.

How to improve appetite?

Before we start using methods to improve appetite, it is necessary to conduct tests to identify the cause of the problem. Proven methods to increase appetite include: using herbal syrups available in pharmacies and herbal stores, which not only improve appetite, but also improve the functioning of the digestive system. It is also worth changing your eating habits, eating more often small portions of easily digestible, well-balanced food. Dishes should be not only varied in composition, but also aesthetically presented, which encourages not only small eaters to eat.

Frequent walks in the fresh air, physical activity and joint cooking also have a positive effect on appetite. The reluctance to eat in the elderly helps to overcome the use of a semi-liquid diet, which eliminates chewing and swallowing problems resulting from missing teeth and weakness.