You may have a reduced appetite due to infections, some mental health conditions, medical conditions, or taking certain medications.

A reduced appetite occurs when you have a decreased desire to eat. It may also be known as loss of appetite. The medical term for this is anorexia.

A variety of mental and physical conditions may cause your appetite to decrease.

If you develop a loss of appetite, you may have related symptoms, such as weight loss or malnutrition. These can be serious if left untreated. So, it’s important to find the reason behind your reduced appetite and receive treatment for it.

Keep reading to learn more about the potential causes of appetite loss and how to manage it.

What is anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia is the medical term to describe a loss of appetite.

Sometimes, however, this term is used to describe an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa. If you have this disorder, you intentionally limit the food you eat to lose weight.

Anorexia nervosa can affect anyone, regardless of gender identity, race, age, socioeconomic status, or other identities. It may lead to underweight, malnutrition, and life threatening complications.

If you or someone you know may be living with anorexia nervosa, consider speaking with a healthcare professional or contacting the National Alliance for Eating Disorders. They offer a daytime helpline staffed by licensed therapists and an online search tool for treatment options.

Bacterial and viral infections at any location may cause short-term loss of appetite.

Your immune system uses more nutrients to fight off infection but doesn’t seek more nutrients to replenish this loss. This causes metabolic changes that may lead to symptoms like loss of appetite and nausea.

Some types of viral and bacterial infections that may lead to loss of appetite include:

After proper treatment of the infection, your appetite should return to what it was before.

However, some antibiotics used to help treat infections may also affect your appetite.

If you still experience a loss of appetite when other potential symptoms have cleared, speak with a healthcare professional. They could help develop a treatment plan to prevent further complications.

Temporary feelings of sadness, stress, and grief may lead to short-term appetite loss.

However, some mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and chronic stress also have links to decreased appetite. According to the authors of a 2018 study, this may be due to high cortisol levels over a long period.

Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, may also lead to a loss of appetite over time.

Several conditions may lead to a decreased appetite. In most cases, your appetite will return to its usual once you get treatment for your underlying condition.

Sometimes, however, a chronic (long-term) medical condition may be associated with loss of appetite, including:

Cancer may also cause loss of appetite, particularly if it is concentrated in the following areas:

Some types of cancer may not affect your appetite. However, certain medications used for treating cancer may decrease your appetite, such as chemotherapy drugs.

Some prescription medications and illegal drugs may reduce your appetite.

Illegal stimulants may include cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines, while prescription medications may include some types of:

It’s important to speak with a healthcare professional if you experience loss of appetite after starting a new medication. They could help revise your treatment plan.

Some other causes of appetite loss may include:

  • pregnancy, especially during the first trimester
  • being age 60 years and older
  • using nicotine products, such as smoking tobacco or electronic cigarettes

Speak with a healthcare professional if you develop a loss of appetite and experience unintentional weight loss.

It’s also important to seek immediate medical help if your decreased appetite could be a result of depression, alcohol, or an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

If you need help finding a primary care doctor, check out our FindCare tool.

Treatment for a decreased appetite will depend on the underlying cause.

Home care

If a temporary infection or an emotional response causes appetite loss, you may not need medical treatment.

The following home remedies may help stimulate your appetite:

It can be useful to keep a diary of what and when you eat and drink over a period of 1 week. This may help a doctor assess your nutritional intake and the extent of your decreased appetite.

Learn more about how to increase your appetite.

Medical care

If home remedies don’t help increase your appetite, a healthcare professional may provide a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

They’ll perform a physical examination and ask about your medical history during your appointment.

It may then be necessary to conduct tests to find the cause of your decreased appetite. Possible tests include:

A healthcare professional will then develop a treatment plan based on the underlying condition. This may include:

  • prescribing medications, such as appetite stimulants
  • altering your medication dosage or switching medication

Sometimes, more severe symptoms may accompany decreased appetite, such as:

If a short-term condition causes your decreased appetite, you’re likely to recover naturally without long-term effects.

However, it’s important to speak with a doctor if you experience loss of appetite and other symptoms to help prevent potentially life threatening complications, such as malnutrition.

What causes a sudden loss of appetite?

Some possible causes of appetite loss include infection, smoking, pregnancy, and taking certain medications, among others.

What to do if you have no appetite?

Exercising and joining others for a meal could help increase your appetite. If your symptoms persist, speak with a healthcare professional. They may recommend medical treatment, such as a short-term course of appetite stimulants.

Loss of appetite, also known as anorexia, is when you’re not hungry, even if you haven’t eaten for a while.

It may be caused by factors ranging from short-term infections to chronic health conditions.

If you experience loss of appetite and other symptoms, speak with a healthcare professional. They could help develop a treatment plan for you.