A person with poor appetite is characterized by the lack of desire to eat as much as they normally would or they may not eat anything at all. This may be because of a number of reasons. Sometimes a poor appetite is considered to be anorexia but this isn’t always the case. Anorexia nervosa is generally related to a person’s self image whereas a poor appetite may not be related to this at all.
A poor appetite may be caused if the person has trouble swallowing, is experiencing pain or nausea, and even vomiting. Depression may be involved or other psychological problems. A poor appetite may be caused by a change in the sense of taste, smell, or having the sensation of being full. Dehydration and tumor growth as well as chemotherapy and radiation have also been known to leave a person with a decreased appetite. There are a number of diseases that may cause a reduction of appetite including HIV, hyperthyroidism, heart failure, hepatitis, and many more. It is always best to check with a doctor when an individual seems to be struggling with their appetite. In most cases this condition is normally a short-term issue.
There are a few things to look for or that will be noticed in a person experiencing this including a loss of weight, a lack of interest in food and the refusal to eat foods that would normally be favorites. Because not eating enough can cause bodily damage, there are things that both the patient and the caregiver can do to help with this condition and battling its effects.
As a patient, the first thing to do is to visit the doctor to find the underlying cause. A change of attitude towards the diet may be necessary, for example, treating the diet as a part of the medical requirements to treat the condition. The patient should eat as much as they want to but without forcing themselves. A patient is always recommended to eat breakfast even if it is very small, and continue to eat small meals frequently throughout the day. Including favorite foods into this diet is usually a big motivation to eat.
Including foods that are high in calories will lower the loss of body weight and will increase the chances of getting the calorie count needed. Such foods as milkshakes, pudding, yogurt and ice cream are good sources of these calories. Adding extra sauces to various foods also helps with the calorie count. To make eating easier, cutting up the food into small pieces is a good idea.
Soft music, the television playing or other distractions sometimes helps with changing the mind frame of the person to make them forget about how much they are eating and may eat more. Including exercise before a meal can increase the appetite and drinking liquids in between meals instead of during is a better option.
If there is a caregiver in charge, by ensuring that they patient adheres to these components of their treatment, they will notice over time, an increase of appetite and weight once again.
