Change in Appetite? Here’s What You Need to Know
A change in appetite is often completely missed in people. I’m not just talking about the people who are around the person who is experiencing the appetite change. Quite often, the person who is experiencing the problem rarely notices that there has been a change at all.
The keyword in the previous sentence is problem. Because a change in appetite often signals that there is something wrong. There’s a good reason that doctors often ask you if you’ve been experiencing a change in appetite whenever you see them about a problem.
An increase in appetite
This is what people usually think of when they think about appetite changes. One of the most common forms of this is found in what many people call “comfort eating”. Because food gives great pleasure without much input from the person, it is sometimes used as an emotional crutch.
How bad this gets varies. For some people, it remains at a certain level of enjoyment. But people who are very emotionally distressed have been known to sink into impulse eating. This sees enjoyment lose relevance.
The risks
The risks of eating more than you usually eat are pretty clear. The most obvious result is weight gain. Thankfully, there are many ways to combat this problems, For example, people can look into weight loss products from Mr Vitamins. You should also be careful for an increase in things like sugar and salt messing with heart and liver functions, though.
A decrease in appetite
When someone loses their appetite, it’s a lot harder for people to notice. That is until weight loss becomes apparent. Extreme cases may be the result of anorexia. Anorexia isn’t simply someone eating less, however. It’s a very serious illness. A loss of appetite may also signal a problem with the kidneys.
In some cases, it may be a signal that the person is using hard drugs. (An increase in appetite is usually linked to the use of soft drugs.) But more often than not, a decrease in appetite is due to some form of anxiety. It has also been recorded in the elderly.
The risks
People forget that weight loss can be just as dangerous as weight gain, if taken too far. If your body isn’t getting the nutrients it needs, you risk suffering several illnesses due to a weakened immune system.
Causes of general appetite changes
One of the weird things about appetite changes is the fact that whichever way it goes, there are several shared causes. This can also lead to some confusion when it comes to diagnosing the problem. Things like depression, for example, can cause someone to eat more or to eat less. The use of certain medications can also see appetite swing either way. Make sure you check the leaflet you get with any prescription so you know what side effects to expect!
Whatever the change is, you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible. There are several illnesses out there that can induce a change in appetite either way. It’s best you try to tackle it as soon as possible.
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