Increased Appetite
Alternative Names:
Excessive hunger, Polyphagia, Hyperphagia
Definition:
A person with an excessive desire to eat may have an increased appetite. The desire to eat may be intermittent or persistent depending on the cause and may not always result in weight gain.
Symptoms:
Consult your doctor if you have an unexplained continuous and overwhelming desire to eat that persists even after eating. If you have other unexplained symptoms along with your increased appetite, call your doctor.
Exams/Testing:
Your doctor will most likely perform a physical exam and review your medical history asking you questions focused on your eating habits. You may be weighed or have a psychological evaluation. You doctor will try to determine the cause of your increased appetite, taking any medications, lifestyle changes, and additional symptoms into account.
Your doctor may order the following tests to determine the cause of your increased appetite:
- Blood tests
- Thyroid function tests
- Mental status evaluation
- Drug screen
Outlook/Prognosis:
Depending on the cause of your increased appetite, your doctor may prescribe lifestyle or medication changes to alter your symptoms of excessive hunger. Emotional support and counseling may be recommended for patients with increased hunger caused by a mental illness or condition, such as bulimia.
Causes (specific drugs):
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