The medical term for losing your appetite, which results in a poor diet, is anorexia, which is different from anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder whereby people obsess about losing weight and purposely don't eat. Anorexia nervosa is an emotional disorder where people get their self-worth from being thin. Losing your appetite, on the other hand, typically results from a medical illness, depression or because of aging. If you are losing weight without trying or wanting to, call your doctor.
Medical Illness and Depression
Many illnesses can cause you to lose your appetite, resulting in your having a poor diet. Various types of cancer such as colon, ovarian, stomach and pancreatic cancers cause decreased appetite. Other illnesses that decrease your appetite are chronic liver disease, kidney failure, COPD, heart failure, hepatitis, HIV and hypothyroidism. It is important to get enough protein, nutrients and calories to prevent malnutrition. Otherwise, you will need to get nutrients intravenously at the hospital. People who lose their appetite because of depression often have accompanying problems such as drug or alcohol abuse and may need psychiatric help.
Aging
Appetite loss that leads to malnutrition is a common problem among senior citizens, especially because good nutrition is critical as people age. Poor nutrition in senior citizens can lead to depression, fatigue, an increased risk for infections, weakness that can lead to falls, digestive problems and poor skin. An elderly person who loses too much weight will probably have to be admitted to the hospital, a nursing home or another type of senior care facility. Reasons aging leads to decreased appetite are health problems, medications, limited income, depression, alcoholism and restricted diets.
Foods for Older People
Because the aging process leads to a decreased appetite, it becomes more important for older people to eat the right foods. Older adults need to concentrate on getting enough calcium and vitamin D for teeth and bone health, zinc for vision and wound healing and vitamin B-12 to prevent weakness and fatigue. The best foods for older people to eat are green, leafy vegetables, fruits, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, oranges and artichokes -- all nutrient-rich foods. Other good foods are peanut butter on toast, nuts, yogurt, cereal, eggs, cheese, rice and noodles.
Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a disorder in which the stomach ceases to work properly; food can't be digested, and nutrients are not delivered to the body. Diabetes is the most common cause. People with this condition often lose their appetite because symptoms are heartburn, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting undigested food and stomach spasms. This disorder is typically chronic, and a dietitian can recommend a special diet to make eating more pleasant.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Anorexia Nervosa; December 2009
- Medline Plus; Appetite -- Decreased; July 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Senior Health: How to Detect and Prevent Malnutrition; September 2009
- American Dietetic Association: Nutrition for Older Women
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Gastroparesis; July 2007
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