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Appetite - increased

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Appetite - increased

Definition:

Hunger is a normal desire for food. Hyperphagia and polyphagia refer to being focused only on eating (gluttony), or eating excessively before feeling full. These can be symptoms of various disorders.

Alternative Names:
Hyperphagia; Increased appetite; Hunger; Excessive hunger; Polyphagia

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Considerations:

Both psychological and endocrine gland disorders can cause polyphagia, which is fairly common.

Polyphagia can be intermittent (come and go), or persistent, depending on the cause. It does not always result in weight gain.

Common Causes:

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

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