1. Treat the Underlying Causes
Manage your lack of appetite by finding out what is causing it. Pregnancy, infections, heartburn, cancer, diabetes, depression and a whole host of other medical conditions can make you feel like not eating. Visit your doctor and talk to him at length about your issues. He will examine you and ask you questions about your medical history. Your doctor will most likely send you for lab tests he can use to diagnose an illness or condition for which decreased appetite is a symptom. A simple answer could be that you are experiencing side effects of a medicine you're taking. A more complicated situation could involve screening for colon cancer or other digestive-tract disorders. Once you have received a firm diagnosis, a treatment plan can be put into action.
2. Manage Your Symptoms With Medication
Depending on the exact cause of your decreased appetite, your doctor may prescribe medications that can help you regain the urge to eat. Anti-nausea medications like promethazine can be used during pregnancy or to fight the side effects of chemotherapy. Other medicines, such as megestrol and dronabinol, are appetite stimulants. They're mainly used when a patient has a condition in which his loss of appetite is permanent, rather than temporary.
3. Tempt Yourself With Favorite Foods
Stock your house with your favorite meals and snack foods (or have someone else do it for you) in an effort to regain weight you have lost during an illness or a bout of decreased appetite. You may find it very difficult to eat when you are sick or feel no hunger. Try to eat a small amount every 2 hours or so, even if you don't really feel like it. Unintentional weight loss can cause you to become malnourished very quickly. Meet with a dietitian or a nutritionist to develop a high-calorie yet healthy diet.
