Your appetite, or desire for food, drives your nutritional intake and is important for your body’s well-being. But you may have been wondering recently, “Why has my appetite increased?”
There are many possible reasons why someone might experience an increased appetite. Understanding the potential causes can help inform you as you discuss this with your doctor.
It’s normal to have an increased appetite after physical exertion or some other activities. But if your appetite is significantly increased over a prolonged period of time, it could be a symptom of a serious illness, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism.
Many people eat for reasons other than hunger, such as being stressed, tired, or sad. A lot of people also overeat because of certain habits, such as eating while distracted or eating too quickly. Try making a list of things that trigger overeating and then coming up with ways to avoid or address them.
Listed below are 10 reasons why you may have an increased appetite:
Causes of increased appetite
- Increased physical activity. If you have increased physical activity, whether this is from a particularly busy day or new exercise routine, your body’s caloric needs will be higher so you may experience an increased appetite.
- Illness. When you are sick, your immune system kicks into gear. This activation, and the immune battle that results, requires calories beyond your body’s “basal” (or baseline) need—causing an appetite increase.
- Recovery from surgery. When your body is trying to heal and rebuild, your metabolism is in an “anabolic” state, or a state of construction. This requires calories, and your appetite will naturally increase.
- Pregnancy. One of the most common reasons for increased appetite is pregnancy and the breastfeeding that follows.
- Diabetes. The onset of diabetes, particularly type 1 diabetes, can cause a sudden increased appetite, along with increased thirst and unintentional weight loss. Other types of diabetes, such as type 2, can have a subtler onset of symptoms.
- Weight loss. Weight loss alone can increase your level of ghrelin, otherwise known as the “hunger hormone,” thereby increasing your appetite.
- Decreased food intake. If you aren’t taking in enough calories, whether intentionally or unintentionally, your appetite may increase. Reduced eating creates a calorie deficit, so the body responds by increasing your appetite to prevent weight loss.
- Dietary changes. If your diet does not contain enough satiating foods, such as fat and protein, your appetite may increase. If you are eating a lot of carbohydrates, your insulin levels could fluctuate more readily—which can, in turn, increase your appetite.
- Stress. Chronic stress can impact your appetite. Some people may use food as a coping mechanism for stressful situations, which conditions the body to associate stress with the positive reward of food and calories.
- Decreased sleep. Insufficient rest may stimulate appetite in some people. This may be due to the effects that lack of sleep can have on appetite-regulating hormones.
Health conditions related to increased appetite
Aside from diabetes, chronic stress, and sleep deprivation (mentioned above), other health conditions can cause an increased appetite, as well.
Hormone conditions, thyroid conditions like hyperthyroidism, genetic conditions, and even growth-hormone secreting tumors can all cause an increased appetite. Certain supplements and prescription medications (like steroids), can also make you eat too much.
