Medically reviewed by Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD on February 18, 2020. Written by Libby Pellegrini To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.
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 healthcare provider—so read on to learn 10 reasons why you may have an 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 cause an appetite increase.
To see if your thyroid hormones are balanced, take the Everlywell at-home Thyroid Test—which measures your levels of 3 key thyroid hormones, plus thyroid antibodies.
If you are experiencing an increased appetite, your healthcare provider may perform a detailed health history and ask you questions that are related to your symptoms. They may perform a focused physical exam and recommend certain blood tests to check for diabetes and other medical conditions that affect the metabolism.
An increased appetite can be caused by a number of factors, including the ten listed above. Consider checking in with your healthcare provider to better understand the reason for your increased appetite.
References
1. King JA, Wasse LK, Stensel DJ. The acute effects of swimming on appetite, food intake, and plasma acylated ghrelin. J Obes. 2011;2011:351628. doi:10.1155/2011/351628
2. Calder PC. Feeding the immune system. Proc Nutr Soc. 2013;72(3):299-309. doi:10.1017/S0029665113001286
3. Demling RH. Nutrition, anabolism, and the wound healing process: an overview. Eplasty. 2009;9:e9.
4. Ladyman SR, Augustine RA, Grattan DR. Hormone interactions regulating energy balance during pregnancy. J Neuroendocrinol. 2010;22(7):805-817. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.02017.x
5. Type 1 diabetes. Mayo Clinic. URL. Accessed February 18, 2020.
6. Polidori D, Sanghvi A, Seeley RJ, Hall KD. How Strongly Does Appetite Counter Weight Loss? Quantification of the Feedback Control of Human Energy Intake. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2016;24(11):2289-2295. doi:10.1002/oby.21653
7. Bendtsen LQ, Lorenzen JK, Bendsen NT, Rasmussen C, Astrup A. Effect of dairy proteins on appetite, energy expenditure, body weight, and composition: a review of the evidence from controlled clinical trials. Adv Nutr. 2013;4(4):418-438. doi:10.3945/an.113.003723
8. Yau YH, Potenza MN. Stress and eating behaviors. Minerva Endocrinol. 2013;38(3):255-267.
9. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Mayo Clinic. URL. Accessed February 18, 2020.
10. Corticosteroids. Cleveland Clinic. URL. Accessed February 18, 2020.