Your appetite is based on a simple set of principles: when you are hungry you eat, and when you eat you are full. It’s a predictable pattern, but what happens when it stops working, and you feel hungry even after eating?
“It’s normal to feel like your appetite fluctuates a little from day to day, but if you notice a persistent feeling of hunger after every meal, even when you think you’ve eaten enough, I would recommend a quick review of any other lifestyle factors or life stressors that may be at play.” Maddie Pasquareello, MS, RDNwho runs the Brooklyn-based Nutrition With Maddie practice, tells SELF. She explains that many, but not all, of these factors can lead to food fussing — “compulsive and often disturbing thoughts about food.” “Food cravings and compulsive urges to eat can distract you, and even if you think you’ve eaten enough, your body may not feel completely satisfied or satisfied.”
Here’s a detailed summary of some of the physical and psychological forces that may be behind persistent postprandial hunger — and how to deal with each. Whatever the reason, Pasquareello says, “It’s important not to completely ignore what’s going on.”
Why might you feel hungry even after eating?
1. You have a medical condition or take medication that increases your appetite
How does this work: Some medications can increase your feelings of hunger and general desire to eat, Pasquareello says. These include a range of psychiatric medications, e.g Antidepressants Amitriptyline, citalopram, mirtazapine, nortriptyline, trimipramine, paroxetine, and phenelzine; the antipsychotics olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine; and the mood stabilizers lithium, valproic acid, divalproex sodium, carbamazepine, and lamotriginelithium, which are commonly used to treat bipolar disorder. Likewise, certain medical conditions and symptoms can also dictate persistent hunger, including starvation Hypothyroidism, menstrual cycleand Premenopausal period.
What to do about it: In addition to the basic pillars of a healthy lifestyle – eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, Stay physically active, Get enough sleepand Stress management-Prioritizing high-fiber vegetables and whole grains, keeping your pantry stocked with healthy options, and sticking to a regular eating schedule can help mitigate the effect, according to BC Children’s Hospital In Canada. If nothing helps and you’re not willing to tolerate this side effect, you can also talk to your doctor about your options, such as switching to an alternative medication that may be a better fit or starting another medication that can balance it out, per Harvard Health.
