Increased appetite

For a long time it was believed that increased appetite is a good sign, which means that a person is healthy and quite satisfied with life.

Doctors have only fought against decreased appetite - a symptom of illness and poor health. However, in recent decades, specialists have drawn a line between increased and normal cravings for food, and have come to the conclusion that some people feel hungry even when their stomach is already full, which can safely be considered an anomaly. Needless to say, lack of control over appetite sooner or later leads to diseases such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic disorders, problems with the pancreas, etc. Today we will talk about why this happens and whether it is possible to fight this phenomenon.

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Causes of increased appetite

The centers of hunger and satiety are located in the hypothalamus. There are many ways in which pathological impulses are sent to these centers during diseases of the digestive organs, causing an increase in appetite. The satiety center is stimulated by stretching of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine. Information about the presence and absorption of nutrients comes from the chemoreceptors of the intestine to the appetite center. The centers of hunger and satiety are also affected by circulating factors (hormones, glucose, etc.), the content of which, in turn, depends on the state of the intestine. Signals caused by pain or emotional reactions that occur during diseases of the gastrointestinal tract come to the hypothalamus from higher centers.

Normally, a person's appetite is controlled by the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that evaluates the amount of food consumed. Apparently, disruptions in its activity can lead to changes in cravings for food. Often, the desire to eat something sweet or starchy is explained by fluctuations in blood glucose levels or insulin production disorders. In this case, it is recommended to limit dishes with a high glycemic index in the diet.

Women may notice an increased desire to eat during periods of hormonal surges, namely before and during menstruation or during pregnancy.

People who follow strict diets or exercise may experience a strong desire to eat as the body tries to replenish its energy deficit.

Why does appetite increase? Of great importance are the numerous temptations that attack us everywhere: beautiful food in advertising, kiosks with baked goods on the way to work, the aroma of ready-made meals from the nearest restaurant - all this stimulates the appetite and makes us eat, even if we do not want to. Tempting desserts, delicacies, dishes prepared in a new way and beautifully presented simply beg to try at least a piece.

And another reason, well-known to many, is eating away problems. Strong emotions, experiences, stress are often factors in the desire to chew. In this way, we try to fill some kind of emptiness inside, which we regard as hunger. Usually in this situation, a person is drawn to high-carbohydrate food - sweets and flour. The fact is that such food promotes the production of serotonin - the well-known hormone of pleasure. Thanks to serotonin, a person calms down, his mood improves. The body remembers this, and during the next stress "leads" us straight to the refrigerator for a portion of serotonin.

And another hormone that influences the desire to eat food is dopamine. It has been proven, for example, that overweight people do not receive enough dopamine, so it has to be “replaced” with another meal.

Each case of increased appetite is individual, and the reasons for this may be different. Let's consider some of them separately.

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Increased appetite as a symptom of disease

In many cases, cravings for food are indeed a symptom of illness. When you are sick, your body instinctively begins to accumulate additional energy for its own recovery.

Of course, you can't regard the desire to have an extra snack as the presence of any disease. This can only be confirmed by diagnostics when visiting a doctor.

However, it is important to know what diseases may be associated with excessive appetite:

• the presence of a neoplasm in the brain;
• diabetes mellitus;
• changes in hormone levels (imbalance);
• thyroid dysfunction;
• diseases of the digestive system;
• depressive states, psychological stress;
• physical and psychological fatigue;
• dehydration syndrome;
• insomnia;
• eating disorder;
• avitaminosis, anemia.

Increased cravings for food often accompany people during the recovery period after various diseases: infectious, inflammatory, even colds. This is considered normal, as the body tries to make up for the energy spent during the illness.

Increased appetite in women

The reaction of the brain center responsible for hunger in a woman's body is directly proportional to the phase of the monthly cycle. During the second phase, approximately 14 days before menstruation, this reaction becomes more pronounced, and a woman may experience a constant desire to eat. For some, this problem occurs two weeks before the critical days, and for others - 2-3 days.

This is explained, first of all, by the cyclical restructuring of the hormonal level. After ovulation, the amount of progesterone in the blood increases. Progesterone promotes the release of the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, which, in turn, accelerate the production of gastric juice. This affects not only the appearance of a feeling of hunger, but also the faster digestion of food.

Moreover, progesterone itself also causes an increase in appetite, since the main purpose of this hormone is to prepare the female body for pregnancy. An increase in its amount means that the woman is ready to become pregnant, so a signal is sent to the brain that it is necessary to urgently stock up on nutrients in case of successful conception.

Since in the second half of the monthly cycle the woman's body begins to produce less insulin, then during PMS she may want simple carbohydrates: cakes, candies, chocolate. Along with the reduced content of pleasure hormones, all this can lead not only to a false feeling of hunger, but also to overeating.

Increased appetite in older people

There are many reasons for increased needs and cravings for food in old age. One of these factors is deterioration of memory and concentration: a person simply does not remember how much time has passed since the last meal, and demands food again. In addition, an elderly person may not have a feeling of satiety, due to numerous chronic diseases, including those of the digestive tract.

Old people worry and fret about their loved ones, about their health, about the fact that their life is coming to an end. Anxiety gives rise to the same craving for food: a person tries to drown out his problems and pain with another meal. Moreover, many old people keep their worries “to themselves”, and their nervous tension can only be recognized by their constant desire to eat.

There are also endocrine factors of gluttony. Long-term illnesses, metabolic disorders - all this affects the state of appetite. It is necessary to conduct diagnostics to find out the cause of such pathology and treat it.

It is especially important to consult a specialist if constant food consumption results in a side effect - obesity.

Increased appetite during pregnancy

When a woman finds out that she is pregnant, her body is already undergoing rapid hormonal changes. The need for nutrients increases sharply, moreover, the expectant mother begins to feel what exactly she needs to eat. Different and not always ordinary wishes and preferences in products arise.

The first trimester of pregnancy, due to the toxicosis inherent in this period, may be accompanied by a decrease in appetite: nausea, weakness, and sometimes vomiting appear. However, in the second trimester, the state of health usually improves, and the need for food manifests itself again, even several times more.

It is not surprising, because the female body spends a lot of energy and internal resources to form and bear a child. Every day the menu should contain a full set of all necessary substances: proteins, carbohydrates, microelements, vitamins, fats. If all the nutrients are sufficient, then the body will not require more than necessary. This means that if a woman wants something, then the body lacks this "something".

Try to eat only healthy food, do not overeat, monitor your weight according to the pregnancy weight gain table. You can get such a table at any antenatal clinic. If excessive cravings for food lead to overeating and excessive weight gain, then review your diet with your doctor.

Increased appetite in a child

A child's appetite is subject to significant fluctuations. It may be temporarily reduced, which may often be associated with poor nutrition, the quality of cooking, monotony of the diet, insufficient drinking in hot weather, and other factors. Long-term appetite disorders, its reduction to the point of absence (anorexia) are associated with various pathologies and intoxications, diseases of the digestive organs, nervous systems, etc.

The condition of increased appetite (polyphagia) in children is less common. Physiological increase in appetite is observed during periods of increased growth and development, for example, during the first stretching period (6-8 years), puberty, sometimes in premature babies due to accelerated growth, in some cases during the recovery period after acute infectious diseases. Typically, appetite increases to high degrees (bulimia) in children suffering from diabetes. Increased appetite in a child often leads to obesity. This symptom also appears with a tumor of the islet apparatus of the pancreas (beta cells) - insulinoma. Hypoglycemia is also observed.

Increased appetite may be observed in brain tumors, in particular, in the hypothalamic region, in some cases with congenital underdevelopment of the central nervous system, long-term use of steroid hormones, sometimes phthivazid, some antihistamines. Polyphagia is also observed in patients with some forms of malabsorption, chronic pancreatitis, and duodenal ulcer.

Increased appetite during breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, the reasons for constant hunger may be:

• loss of fluid with milk;
• increased energy expenditure (for milk production, child care, new household chores, etc.);
• the habit of overeating during pregnancy;
• subjective factors – lack of sleep, worries about the child, postpartum depression.

The balance of sex hormones also plays an important role. In most young mothers, the hormonal level stabilizes approximately six months after giving birth, and during this time the woman may suffer from increased cravings for food. As a rule, over time the level returns to normal and the attitude towards nutrition normalizes.

The health of the child should be a restraining factor for not eating "everything in sight". It is no secret that almost everything that a mother eats passes to the child in the milk. What can a woman's gluttony result in for a baby: diathesis, colic in the tummy, allergies and even bronchial asthma. Before you go to the refrigerator again, think about whether you really want to eat, or is this just a whim of the body?

Increased appetite with gastritis

With gastritis, the desire for food often disappears rather than increases, because stomach pain does not contribute to the desire to eat. However, sometimes the opposite is possible: uncontrolled secretion of gastric juice can provoke a false feeling of hunger. In addition, many patients try to eat away the pain with a large amount of food.

There is also a third reason: the inflammatory process in the stomach requires additional vitamins and nutrients from the body, as well as fluid to remove residual products of the inflammatory reaction.

Fighting the constant feeling of hunger with gastritis is pointless, it is necessary to treat gastritis directly. After recovery, the appetite will be restored on its own. But you can’t give in to it and overeat either. It would be wiser to eat often, but little by little, reducing the load on the digestive system. The diet should be made as light as possible: for example, replace rich soup with broth, and a side dish with meat with stewed vegetables.

Do not try to drastically reduce your diet, as fasting is not the best option for gastritis. Eat every 2-2.5 hours, but the portions should be small, not causing a feeling of satiety. As the disease is cured, the menu can be gradually expanded.

Increased appetite in the evening

Nutritionists explain the increase in appetite towards evening by the following reasons:

• the person did not receive enough calories during the day;
• Throughout the day, he consumed high-calorie carbohydrate foods, which caused a sharp increase in blood sugar.

If the body lacks calories (for example, you are on a strict diet), then at the first opportunity it begins to demand food, and most often this happens in the evening or even at night.

If you ate sweets, candies, or were tempted by a cake during the day, then in a couple of hours there will be a sharp drop in blood sugar levels, and the body will start to demand an additional portion of sweets. Complex carbohydrates (for example, cereals) are a different matter: they do not cause sharp jumps in glucose levels, sugar rises and falls gradually, and the feeling of hunger is controlled.

When choosing a diet, remember that too much restriction of caloric content of food makes our body sooner or later demand food and arrange a kind of reserves in the form of fat deposits. The human body cannot allow death from exhaustion to occur, so the lack of calories at a certain point results in a fit of gluttony. And if at first it seems easy enough for you to starve, then all subsequent attempts will end earlier and earlier in fits of evening "binge eating".

Sometimes evening overeating is just a habit. You work all day, and there is simply no time to have a proper breakfast or lunch. And what happens as a result: a person comes home in the evening and eats his fill “in two lunches”. And so on every day. The body gets used to it and calmly endures daytime fasting, knowing that food will be available in abundance in the evening.

All of the above factors can be considered as a violation of the diet. This is not good for the digestive system or for health in general. Therefore, eating habits should be reviewed and you should eat fully and correctly.

Nausea and increased appetite

Nausea can indicate many diseases and conditions. Thus, nausea accompanies some diseases of the digestive tract, vestibular disorders, toxicosis during pregnancy, poisoning and intoxication. And what can the appearance of nausea and a feeling of hunger indicate at the same time?

Nausea can cause increased salivation and increased production of gastric juice, which provokes a feeling of hunger. In such situations, you don’t just want to eat: food is digested faster, the digestive tract works more actively. It is even possible that you have more frequent bowel movements.

Apart from pregnancy, which may be accompanied by such a condition, the listed symptoms may be a consequence of the following diseases:

• pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, stomach tumor, esophagitis);
• diseases of the pancreas (pancreatitis, tumors);
• gallbladder disease;
• increased intracranial pressure, meningitis, encephalitis, parkinsonism;
• seasickness.

Sometimes nausea and a desire to eat occur when taking certain medications. These may be cardiac glycosides or antidepressants.

Increased appetite, drowsiness and weakness

Feeling hungry and sleepy, tired are observed with low blood sugar. As a rule, this is a side effect of strict diets and fasting. You can take tests to make sure that the amount of glucose in the blood is low. If your fears are confirmed, it is recommended to visit a nutritionist who will review your nutritional principles and create a special menu that will meet your requirements (for example, for weight loss) and will not negatively affect your well-being and health.

The feeling of hunger appears quite logically, due to the lack of nutrition for the body. The stomach is empty, accordingly, the hunger center signals that it is necessary to eat.

Weakness and drowsiness are associated with irreparable energy expenditure, general dehydration and muscle protein loss. A person feels drowsy, fatigued, constantly wants to sleep, and does not feel a sense of vigor in the morning.

Increased appetite and weakness can also be observed with elevated blood sugar levels associated with diabetes, adrenal gland or thyroid dysfunction. A persistent increase in sugar levels can be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• frequent urination;
• dry mouth;
• emaciation;
• feeling of hunger;
• weakness;
• visual impairment;
• addition of infectious diseases.

In this case, the body is dehydrated and exhausted. The person does not just want to eat: most often, he feels the need for sweets. At the same time, he does not gain weight, but on the contrary, loses weight, which only increases the feeling of hunger and weakness.

Blood sugar fluctuations should not be sharp. You can track changes in the balance by taking glucose tests several times. A subsequent consultation with an endocrinologist or therapist will determine whether there is a disease in the body. If so, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment and monitor the dynamics of the patient's condition.

Very increased appetite

"Brutal" appetite is often a consequence of carbohydrate metabolism disorder. Such disorders in most cases become the causes of excess weight and obesity. People with such problems are drawn mainly to products rich in simple carbohydrates: sweets, cakes, cookies, pies, pastries.

When consuming the listed products, the amount of glucose in the blood increases rapidly. Excess insulin enters the bloodstream, which also quickly lowers the glucose level. As a result of a sharp drop in glucose, the brain center again receives a signal that it is necessary to eat. It turns out to be a kind of vicious circle - the more we eat, the more we need. As a result, carbohydrate metabolism is upset, and then the general metabolic processes. There is an accumulation of excess energy, a large amount of fatty tissue is produced, the breakdown of which is blocked by the brain. And the result is obesity.

Excessive cravings for food do not form immediately - usually these are years of poor nutrition, an unhealthy lifestyle, stress, physical inactivity, etc. Because of this, it is necessary to stabilize the work of the saturation center only by normalizing the diet and life principles.

Increased appetite in cancer

In oncological problems, appetite is usually decreased, not increased. This is due to the severe intoxication of the body, the release of decay products by the tumor, and the use of potent drugs that also negatively affect the saturation centers.

The lack of a feeling of hunger in stomach cancer is due to the fact that the neoplasm seems to fill the gastric lumen, which creates a feeling of satiety.

Increased hunger may only be observed in the early stages of the disease, or at the stage of recovery, when the patient is on the mend after a course of therapy. This is considered a good sign and means that the body is recovering and requires additional nutrients.

However, it is necessary to eat when you have cancer. It is very important to keep your body in working condition, because if it is weakened, it will not be able to resist the disease. Nutrition should be complete, high-quality, high-calorie, in small portions, but often.

Worms and increased appetite

There are more than two hundred known species of worms that can inhabit the human body: mainly flatworms and nematodes. Due to the large number of parasites, the symptoms of infection can vary significantly. Thus, with helminthic invasions, both a decrease and an increase in appetite can be observed. Therefore, the presence of a feeling of hunger cannot be considered a characteristic sign of the presence of worms.

Parasite infestation is characterized by a complex of symptoms:

• unreasonable irritability, anger, constant fatigue, sleep disorders;
• discomfort in the abdominal area, increased gas formation, feeling of heaviness, absence or exacerbation of the feeling of hunger, indigestion (constipation alternates with diarrhea);
• anemia, vitamin deficiency;
• emaciation, in childhood – growth retardation;
• frequent allergies.

A constant feeling of hunger can be associated with worms if, along with an increased craving for food, there is weight loss and some of the other symptoms listed above.

In order to make sure that worms are present, it is necessary to take a stool test several times; you can also take a smear or scraping.

Increased appetite in men

Men are subject to gluttony no less than women. It goes without saying that men need more caloric food than women. However, sometimes even here you can lose control and eat too much. There are also many reasons why the body makes a man eat more:

• thyroid dysfunction, endocrine disorders;
• diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, ulcers, dysbacteriosis, etc.);
• depressed, depressive states, lack of self-realization (dismissal from work, low salary, discord in the family, etc.);
• frequent stress;
• chronic fatigue, overwork, lack of sleep, heavy physical labor;
• unbalanced diet, lack of adequate nutrition;
• alcohol consumption;
• dehydration.

Most often, the majority of the listed problems are solved in a relatively short period of time by establishing a diet, daily routine, and providing time for sufficient rest and sleep.

If a man drinks alcohol, the resulting increase in appetite may be a consequence of a metabolic disorder, a failure in the production of digestive enzymes and gastric juice, chronic damage to the digestive organs. And, finally, any consumption of alcohol is accompanied by a dense "snack", because alcoholic beverages irritate the stomach receptors and provoke a "brutal" desire to eat.

All this must be taken into account when starting to fight increased appetite. First, you need to get rid of bad habits, improve your diet and lifestyle, put your nervous system in order - and the main part of the problem can be solved.

Treatment of increased appetite

To combat unmotivated hunger, you should first adjust your diet. It is important to reduce the percentage of fatty, sweet and spicy foods in your diet, eat less semi-finished products and ready-made food from stores and fast food. Many manufacturers add special flavor enhancers to products, which encourage consumers to buy and eat these products, and in uncontrolled quantities: after such additives, regular homemade and healthy food will seem bland and tasteless. Remember this when you buy food.

Avoid overeating. It is better to put the plate aside in time: nothing bad will happen if you finish the dish in an hour or two.

Take your time when eating, don't get distracted by talking on the phone, watching the news or reading newspapers. In order for the body to understand that it has eaten, the eyes must see the food, not the pages on the computer monitor.

Do not drink anything while eating, as this can promote rapid evacuation of undigested food from the stomach, which will manifest itself as a feeling of hunger after a short time.

Try not to overload your body, do not overwork yourself. We always find time for work, sometimes forgetting about rest. But the body also needs to recover.

Don't forget to feed your body with vitamins, minerals, and clean water. All of this is vital for the proper functioning of organs, including the digestive system.

Speaking about the psychological aspect – problems on the personal front, stress at work and at home – one can only wish one thing: look at life more positively, strive to be an optimist, and then many issues will resolve themselves, and life will become brighter.

As for pills that affect the hunger centers in the brain, it is not recommended to resort to their use. It is better to use medicinal herbs, as well as eat certain foods to reduce appetite.

Increased appetite does not always indicate illness; you just need to reconsider your attitude towards food and life.