Appetite - increased

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Lower digestive anatomy

Increased appetite means you have an excess desire for food.

Hyperphagia; Increased appetite; Hunger; Excessive hunger; Polyphagia

An increased appetite can be a symptom of different diseases. For example, it may be due to certain mental conditions and endocrine gland disorders.

An increased appetite can come and go (intermittent), or it can last for long periods of time (persistent), depending on the cause. It does not always result in weight gain.

The terms "hyperphagia" and "polyphagia" refer to someone who is focused only on eating, or who eats excessively before feeling full.

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Causes of increased appetite include:

• Anxiety
• Certain drugs (such as corticosteroids, cyproheptadine, and tricyclic antidepressants)
• Bulimia (most common in women 18 - 30 years old)
• Diabetes mellitus (including gestational diabetes )
• Graves' disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypoglycemia
• Premenstrual syndrome

Review Date: 10/30/2010
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).