DIABETES

Carbs contain a type of sugar called glucose, which is the body’s primary energy source. When you consume carbs, glucose enters the bloodstream and the hormone insulin gets released by the pancreas to help it get transported to and absorbed by liver, muscle, and fat cells so the body can power itself. Diabetes is a condition that interferes with that process and can result in persistent hunger because the body isn’t getting the fuel it needs to meet its energy demands.

HYPOGLYCEMIA

When the amount of glucose in your body drops too low for the sugar to meet your body’s energy needs, that’s known as hypoglycemia. And in response to that situation, increased hunger can occur as a signal for you to eat to raise blood sugar levels back to normal. While common in diabetics, this can also be an ongoing problem for people without diabetes. Excessive alcohol use and certain medical conditions can be a cause in those individuals but it’s most usually a diet with too many simple carbs that cause a rapid spike then fall in blood sugar.

HYPERTHYROIDISM

The thyroid is a gland in the neck that makes hormones with various functions, one of which is regulating the rate that the body converts food into energy. So when the body has hyperthyroidism, or produces too many thyroid hormones, it can have the resulting effect of speeding up the metabolism because the body burns calories too fast, thus making you hungry sooner.

PREGNANCY

A classic symptom of pregnancy is increased hunger. Some women experience a shift within the first few weeks while others don’t until much later. So being pregnant can be a cause of unexplained hunger, particularly when you don’t know you are.¹How is it possible not to know you’re pregnant? Well, common pregnancy symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and missed periods might not occur in all women. And if they do, they might not be recognized as pregnancy symptoms but attributed to something else, such as morning sickness for an upset stomach, a missed period for an irregular menstrual cycle, or increased appetite because they’re working out more. There’s also the fact that some people don’t show physical signs of pregnancy until the later stages or have too much belly fat to discern the development of a baby bump. Whatever the case, it’s not unheard of for people to be pregnant right until labor without even knowing they are.

STRESS

The body’s release of adrenaline to help overcome the initial onset of stress can suppress the appetite in the short-term. But when the cause of the stress isn’t resolved and stress is allowed to build up, the body increases the production of cortisol, a hormone that promotes hunger. Prolonged stress may also inhibit the secretion of peptide YY (PYY), a hormone that regulates fullness.

MEDICATIONS

Certain antidepressants, corticosteroids, beta-blockers, antiseizure drugs, diabetes medications, antihistamines, and oral contraceptives can stimulate the appetite as a side effect.

SLEEP

Leptin is a hormone that promotes the feeling of fullness. Ghrelin promotes hunger. Sleep helps regulate the production of those hormones and keeps them balanced. It’s for this reason that an increased appetite can be the result of poor or inadequate sleep over an extended period.

DEHYDRATION

The liver needs water to produce glycogen, which is the stored form of glucose. So inadequate fluid levels can contribute to feelings of constant hunger because the body isn’t making enough energy from food to meet its demands, thus prompting signals for you to eat more. Also, because many types of food provide water, low hydration can lead to sensations of hunger from the body stimulating the appetite as a way for it to obtain the necessary fluids.

DIET

Constant hunger can be from not consuming enough protein, fiber, or healthy fats, as those nutrients have satiating properties that increase the feeling of fullness so you’re able to go longer between meals without eating. Consuming too many processed foods and most sources of liquid calories can have the opposite effect of reducing hunger.