A loss of appetite can occur for a variety of reasons, and once the underlying cause has been discovered, steps can be taken to restore appetite and acquire necessary nutrition. For those with a serious illness, loss of appetite can be especially dangerous, since the person needs more calories and nutrients during illness.
Cancer and Cancer Treatments
People living with cancer or going through active treatment for the disease can display a loss of appetite for a variety of reasons. The American Cancer Society says reasons include tumor growth, depression, difficulty swallowing, nausea and vomiting and a change in how things taste. Despite a lack of appetite, it is important for the patient to maintain his weight and consume adequate nutrition to keep up strength and boost the immune system. Eating frequent smaller meals and snacks; consuming liquid nutritional supplements such as Boost or Ensure; using strong spices; and adding butter and oils to meals can all help insure that enough calories and nutrition are being consumed, says the American Cancer Society. Talking to the health care team about medications that can decrease nausea and stimulate the appetite can also help restore appetite.
Medications
Certain medications can decrease appetite, change how foods taste and make eating unappealing, or make eating very painful or difficult. According to NYTimes.com, medications that can cause loss of appetite or an aversion to eating include amphetamines, antibiotics, chemotherapy medications, morphine and certain kinds of cold remedies. Some antidepressant drugs, especially venlaxafine (Effexor) and buproprion (Wellbutrin), also can cause lack of appetite, says Familydoctor.org.
Psychological Disorders
Depression can cause changes in appetite, either increasing or decreasing desire for food, says the Mayo Clinic. This is because changes in neurotransmitters, or brain chemicals, like serotonin that affect mood also have an effect on the desire to eat. Other psychological issues that can interfere with appetite include anorexia nervosa, anxiety, stress and emotional upset, according to NYTimes.com.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
A loss of appetite can occur in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV. This is sometimes also called wasting, and becomes significant when the patient has unintentionally lost 5 percent of his total body weight in six months or less, says Tufts School of Medicine. In those with HIV, this can also lead to loss of muscle and changes in body tissues. Reasons for loss of appetite in patients with HIV include side effects of the antiviral drugs, nausea and crippling fatigue, according to Tufts.
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