What should you know about extreme loss of appetite?

Appetite can fall during COVID-19, influenza, gastroenteritis, or hepatitis A, particularly when nausea, fever, diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort, or altered taste is present. Gastritis and peptic ulcer disease may make eating uncomfortable. Depression can reduce interest in food even without prominent stomach symptoms. Less common but important causes include pancreatic cancer, especially when appetite loss occurs with ongoing upper abdominal or back pain, jaundice, or unexplained weight change.

Record what you manage to eat and drink, associated symptoms, recent medicines, alcohol intake, and whether swallowing or chewing is difficult. This information helps a clinician judge hydration and nutrition needs.

Take small, frequent sips of fluid and choose manageable foods such as soup, yoghurt, rice, or toast if tolerated. Avoid forcing a large meal. Keep a simple record of intake and symptoms, and seek advice about medicines rather than stopping a prescribed treatment on your own. Book an appointment if the change continues, affects daily function, or comes with pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, low mood, or weight loss.

Get urgent help if you cannot keep fluids down, pass very little urine, feel faint or confused, have severe abdominal pain, vomit blood, pass black stools, or develop yellowing of the skin or eyes. A child, older adult, pregnant person, or someone with a long-term illness may become unwell from poor intake sooner and should be assessed promptly.

Ask whether you need an examination or tests, how to protect hydration and nutrition, and whether any medicine could be affecting appetite. Share your intake, symptom timeline, bowel changes, mood, and any weight change.