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Is appetite loss common in depression?

46 Answers
Last Updated: 10/05/2021 at 2:20pm
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Top Rated Answers
chale
May 2nd, 2017 1:21am
Definitely. I've been suffering from bad anxiety and depression lately, and the worse I feel, the more my appetite drops. It gets to the point where I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about eating. Personally, I've really had to take a step back and stop putting so much pressure on myself. If I couldn't eat one day, or could only manage some tea and crackers, that's okay! Meanwhile, I can work out my depression and my eating thing will get better along with it. I was even afraid I had an eating disorder for the while. You're not alone, promise.
Deliah453
July 6th, 2020 5:57am
Depression is a feeling of sadness that does not go away for a long time and can interfere in your day to day activities. It leads to losing energy and interest. This can include Loss of Appetite despite the various stages of depression. A major depressive disorder is diagnosed when other symptoms are also faced by the individual. It must be noted that a loss of appetite may occur during other mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders. The extent of the loss of appetite faced may differ between moderate depression to severe depression. For older adults, it can be a problem as they do not have the energy to prepare the meals and eat them despite being hungry while for youngsters, they may worry their family members by not eating. It can be quite a shocking change to see someone refusing to eat ice cream for example! While loss of appetite is a common depression symptom, feelings of sadness or worthlessness can make some people overeat or not eat at all which isn’t very good because it happens in extremes and so people might not pay attention to the side effects. There are physical symptoms like severe weight change that can be dangerous. Overeating can be a way to deal with sadness through food which only makes you content for a short-term and is done more on regular basis while not eating at all can make the depression worse. Though this may not be apparent in the short-term, it can impact the physical health of the person. You may try changing your regular diet and try having food at the correct times and in moderation for a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Marin
November 10th, 2015 8:45pm
Yes, it is very common for people to loose their appetite, just like they also tend to see less beauty in their surroundings and things seem to be generally less attractive or fun to do then they did before. Depression can basically block out pleasurous things in your life, which makes it even harder to overcome depression. It´s like a downward spiral that you need to get out of, that´s why it is important to do things you´ve lost interest in anyway and try to find that interest again. - in that case, that might be finding your appetite again. But in the best case, the cause of the depression will be solved and you´ll hopefully be able to enjoy life better again :)
Giantpeach
July 31st, 2017 3:07pm
I think appetite loss can be very common in depression as depression can put you in this dark hole of nothingness and you aren't able to do things for yourself. It can make you feel nothing and you just want to sit alone and do nothing either. There is no energy surrounding depression and it's hard to even just do a simple task everyday. Even eating can become a challenge and therefore you lose your appetite. Your mind isn't focused on everyday tasks and sometimes it just can't be bothered with anything. I'm not saying this happens to everyone who experiences depression but I do think it can happen to some.
Brittneym101
November 3rd, 2015 7:54pm
Yes, appetite loss is common in depression. As I've mentioned before I was diagnosed with depression this year. I already knew that I had it before I was officially diagnosed with it. Loss of appetite doesn't occur in every case of depression because depression symptoms vary from person to person. Sometimes you can go from eating less, to nothing at all and then over eating. It's normal, but it's not healthy. I couldn't even hold a full course meal down without feeling sick and because I wasn't eating as much and then I started to go days without eating my weight would drop drastically. I eventually started to miss food, so as a way to try to cope with feeling down I would binge. Then I would go back to not eating much and not eating at all.
Nicobaka
April 12th, 2015 3:17pm
It is one of the main symptoms of depression, especially when paired with unwanted weight loss. It is common to loose interest in daily activities when suffering from depression, including simple tasks such as eating, and people just loose their appetite, since they are uninterested in food.
Oreo
July 20th, 2015 3:04am
Yes it is. The feeling can stem from a lack of purpose behind eating, when depression can cause one to feel like living is no longer meaningful, and therefore sustaining one's health is no longer necessary or even desirable. It can also be a form of self-harm where the empty feeling of hunger can overwhelm the empty feeling of depression.
heavenlux
August 10th, 2015 3:03pm
Appetite loss is a very common sign on depression and it doesn't have anything to do with eating disorders. Depression leaves the body feeling tired and lifeless, with no energy to even eat or shower.
LucVincent
March 8th, 2015 1:43am
Change is appetite is a common sign of depression. It can be appetite loss, or emotional eating can occur.
BlushingRobot
September 4th, 2017 11:54pm
For some people, it can be. Others will over-eat. Depression affects each person uniquely, which is part of the reason it can be so hard to treat and manage!
Anonymous
July 24th, 2017 11:41am
With depression, most people tend to either lose appeitie or gain it. Losing appetite is pretty common with it, though, especially if you're losing motivation to do other simple things or take care of yourself, that can just be part of it, sometimes. (Please eat, even if you're not hungry, though! Please nourish yourself)!
Twokindears
June 12th, 2015 9:55am
It is a quite common symptom of depression! Depression affects ma y of the things that are routine and needed to remain healthy such as appetite,sleep,thought process, and socializing. That is just to name a few. It is wise to seek professional help if this continues to be bothersome!
Anonymous
January 19th, 2016 3:23pm
very common when i was very depressed and now when i go in and out of it my appetite varies and i can completely lose it
Anonymous
June 13th, 2016 12:24am
In my experience there are many symptoms of depression, or symptoms that accompany depression, and loss of appetite can be one of these. It is important to remember to try to maintain a healthy schedule of diet and excercise - even if you feel you cannot muster it. Go for a walk, eat a small portion of something you like. Not taking care of yourself can make symptoms worse and can make your depression worse.
uniqueHeart20
March 6th, 2015 1:56am
Yes, it is one of the common symptoms of depression; of course, it may not always mean that you're depressed!
neverletlifetakeyourspark
April 5th, 2015 10:50pm
Yes. Many people either over or under eat when they are suffering from depression. Many times the victim is unaware, and just simply doesn't notice. It is a terrible thing to go through and needs treatment.
MoonshineStrider
April 11th, 2015 8:57pm
Yes, loss of appetite or excessive gain in appetite are both very common in depression, loss of it being ore common than the flip side of the situation.
HealingLotus
May 6th, 2015 3:24am
I do believe so, yes. It doesn't always mean depression though. It can be due to any number of things.
Anonymous
November 3rd, 2015 9:39am
Yes, appetite loss is common in depression. In some case the patients will likely over eat as well.
Minami
July 14th, 2015 8:01pm
Depression can show up in many faces. In some people it can cause overeating too. But yes, if you feel very unmotivated (to eat) it can without a doubt be a sign of depression.
Angel98
September 14th, 2015 2:02pm
Yeah, it's common. In depression you could notice a loss or an increase in appetite, but it's not the only signal of depression. Others could be sleep desorders, loss of interest in things you've always liked, and low morale.
Anonymous
January 15th, 2019 2:30pm
In my experience, it is a very common symptom. The depressed feel like they can't do anything and neglect to take care of themselves, often going for weeks on end without eating. I have personally experienced this, going for a whole week and losing 15 pounds due to my depression.It is not healthy at all, and yet, is still and huge problem facing anyone with depression. Recently, a coworker confided in me that their medicine for their depression caused them to lose almost 20 pounds from not eating. Sometimes, it's not the depression that causes not eating, but the medications that are taken to try and overcome depression.
grace205
May 30th, 2015 5:05am
Yes. It is one of the first indicators and warning signs of clinical depression. Talk to a doctor if it is affecting your day to day life or you are losing too much weight.
Becca0926
July 27th, 2015 4:41pm
VERY common. Symptoms can be broad and unique to the individual, but this particular symptom is very common. If you think you are depressed, consider talking to someone whether it be a counselor, a loved one, a friend... It can be difficult to handle on your own!
Kissmango
April 26th, 2015 6:47am
Maybe for some, yes. I think that a decline in activity and an increase in caloric intake/binging may also be a symptom of it.
Anonymous
November 19th, 2016 3:23am
Yes, because scientifically, you lose your rightful amount of neurotransmitters, which causes behavioral issues. But eating less is also common because when you lose interest in other subjects, you begin to start caring less about vital parts of your life, like eating. Losing your appetite is simply you feeling not up to doing something, which is part of the unbalanced neurotransmitter situation. To help this, antidepressants are a great way to go, along with counseling and self help, since you know yourself the best.
PrincessDove13
November 14th, 2016 7:37pm
Yes, it can be a very common thing to deal with when you are depressed. I know when I was, I lost my appetite quite a lot. For some, it may be the opposite and they might binge eat, even when they are not hungry.
Anonymous
November 14th, 2016 5:28pm
A lot of the time, yes, but it depends on the person. Some eat more food to deal with it while others stop eating.
Anonymous
September 20th, 2016 10:31am
It's common for people to lose interest about a lot of things, including eating. It's just part of the process
FadingJoy
September 12th, 2016 10:48pm
Yes! Many suffer an increased or decreased appetite when suffering from depression or it's aftermath