Strong Or Weak Appetite

What Causes Weak Appetite?

Weak appetite can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'troubling' to 'generally fatal'.  Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms.  In order to diagnose weak appetite, we could:

  • Research the topic
  • Find a doctor with the time
  • Use a diagnostic computer system.
The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "weak appetite" as a symptom.  Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)
  • Crohn's Disease
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
  • Pinworms
  • Magnesium Toxicity
  • Stress

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:
moderate unexplained fevers
low diastolic blood pressure
arrhythmia
recent dry cough
dizziness when standing up
chronic diarrhea
black/brown fingernails
frequent sleep paralysis
frequent nightmares
physical abuse during childhood
recent job/career changes
high refined sugar consumption
... and more than 140 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of weak appetite:
Cause Probability Status
Stress 98% Confirm
Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) 25% Unlikely
Crohn's Disease 17% Unlikely
Hyperparathyroidism 5% Ruled out
Magnesium Toxicity 0% Ruled out
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity 0% Ruled out
HIV/AIDS 0% Ruled out
Pinworms 0% Ruled out
* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

In the Diet section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about strong or weak appetite:
How strong is your appetite (desire to eat) generally?
Possible responses:
→ Very weak - I eat infrequently and small amounts
→ Weak
→ Average / don't know
→ Strong
→ Very strong - I rarely miss an opportunity to eat
Based on your response to this question, which may indicate loss of appetite, weak appetite, normal appetite, strong appetite or very strong appetite, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:
Congestive Heart Failure

Accumulation of fluid (due to congestive heart failure) in the liver and intestines may cause nausea, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite.

Diabetes Type I

Intense hunger is a sign of Diabetes I.

Fluoride Toxicity

Loss of appetite is an early sign of fluorosis.

Hypoglycemia

Hunger is a symptom of hypoglycemia.

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

There are several mechanisms through which IBS can cause weak appetite:

  • Loss of appetite due to indigestion and subsequent acid reflux, which is common with IBS
  • Feeling overly full or bloated as a result of IBS
  • Feeling stressed or anxious because of IBS: the release of adrenaline puts the body into 'fight or flight' mode and redirects resources away from the digestive system
  • The abdominal pain that often results from IBS can cause loss of appetite
Kidney Disease

Loss of appetite is a possible symptom of kidney disease.

Leukemia

Loss of appetite and weight loss can occur with AML, CLL or CML.

Nephrotic Syndrome

As nephrotic syndrome progresses, appetite is greatly decreased.

Pinworm Infection

A heavy pinworm infection can cause loss of appetite.

... and also rule out issues such as:
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