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| Loss of Appetite |
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Poor Appetite
A person with a poor or no appetite eats much less than they normally would, or does not eat at all. Decreased appetite can be caused by a number of factors, such as difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, altered sense of taste or smell, feeling full, tumor growth, depression, or pain. In most cases, poor appetite is a temporary problem.
What to Look For
- Difficulty swallowing
- Weight loss
- Lack of interest in food
- Refusing favorite foods
What to Do
- Eat as much as you want
- Think of food as a necessary part of treatment
- Start the day with breakfast
- Eat small, frequent meals of favorite foods
- Try to eat foods high in calories that are easy-to-eat foods, such as pudding, gelatin, ice
cream, yogurt, and milk shakes
- Eat food cold or at room temperature to decrease its smell and taste
- Create pleasant settings for meals
- Eat with other family members or friends
- Drink beverages between meals instead of with meals, since drinking liquids at mealtime can
lead to early fullness
- Try light exercise 1 hour before meals
- If okay with your doctor, try a glass of beer or wine before eating
Do Not
- Do not force yourself to eat
- Do not allow food issues to become the focus of the relationship between you and your
family
Call the Doctor About Any of the Following Symptoms
- Nausea
- Inability to eat for a day or more
- Weight loss of 5 pounds or more
- Pain while eating
- Inability to urinate for an entire day
- Lack of bowel movement for 2 days or more
- Infrequent urination accompanied by small, pungent, or very yellow urine
- Vomiting for more than 24 hours
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