Our body processes so many functions daily, one of which is the regulation of the amount of food we eat. Usually, the sensation of hunger would alert us that we have not yet eaten or it is past beyond meal times. In the same way, the feeling of satiety would tell you that you do not need any more food. However, there are times wherein sudden loss of appetite and feeling full despite not eating anything may set in. Although it does not cause problems when it is only temporary, poor appetite does have some implication in weight maintenance and in keeping ourselves healthy if it is happening too often.

What causes loss of appetite?

There are a lot of factors at play when we are talking about early satiety. Much of the disease process involved in how your body develops loss of appetite involves other body systems other than your gut.

1. Constipation

Inability to pass out our body's daily trash would logically cause problems for us to take in nutrition. Constipation usually causes alterations in the intestine's mobility, of course resulting in a decreased feeling of hunger. The next time you notice that you have not done your daily toilet habit for quite some time, try noticing the amount of food you are willing to eat. You would notice it is less.

2. Stress

Psychology plays a huge part in maintaining other body processes. Stress affects the way we eat because it alters the number of hormones and enzymes released, not only in the central nervous system but also the digestive system. You would notice that while being in a stressful situation, you would either resort to stress eating or have a sudden loss of appetite and feeling full without eating.

3. Pregnancy

A growing child inside the womb displaces other structures involved in digestion. Aside from this, pregnancy is a time wherein a woman's body is in overdrive at producing all sorts of hormones needed to maintain pregnancy. Consequently, other systems, including the gastrointestinal system, is affected.

4. Digestive Problems

Of course, there would be problems in regulating your feeling of satiety if the problem is primarily in your gut. Problems indigestion would usually result in a feeling of bloating and constipation when parts of the food you ate are not digested properly. You would see that loss of appetite and bloat go hand in hand most of the time. Of course, certain bowel changes that range from the passage of loose stools to constipation are expected.

How do you treat loss of appetite?

Successfully dealing with the loss of appetite involves a multidimensional approach. Here are some ways on how you can combat this.

1. Constipation

Constipation can be relieved by maintaining a well-balanced meal plan, making sure that fibers and grains are not left out. These foods help in increasing the bulk of the stool and in easing its passage in the gut. Hydration and exercise would also contribute to keeping constipation at bay. These measures maintain the mobility and strength of the intestines so that your daily trash is kept out from your body.

2. Stress

Stress-relieving techniques such as meditation, yoga, exercise, and doing your most-loved hobbies would greatly help in keeping your gut functioning at its best. These activities are great diversional activities that help keep stress away. They help in regulating the number of hormones released, decreasing those that cause loss of appetite and bloating, while increasing the happy hormones.

3. Pregnancy

Increasing oral fluid intake and eating meals that maintain the health of both you and your baby, all while maintaining a healthy bulk of stool is recommended while you are pregnant. Incorporating vegetables and fruits in the body addresses both you and your baby's needs. Just remember to keep everything in healthy levels in order to prevent other complications while being pregnant from happening. These include hypertension and diabetes.

4. Digestive Problems

Most of the digestive problems are caused by the presence of certain components in food that your gut is specifically unable to process. For some, these are in the form of dairy, gluten, or fats. It is important to know which foods you are not able to tolerate in order to keep your gut functioning optimally. A visit to the doctor would enlighten you on how certain food affects your gut's physiology and how you can combat their effects.

In Summary

Unless there really is an organic problem that is causing sudden loss of appetite and feeling full despite poor food intake, treating this will not be as difficult as you may think it is. It is important to know what is the primary cause of your gut problems because most of the time, they usually involve multiple body systems other than the stomach and intestines. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle even before the loss of appetite sets in would also help a lot. For cases where satiety problems are posing more risks to your health, it is always prudent to see a doctor.