What Causes A Decreased Appetite?
A number of conditions can lead to a decreased appetite. In most cases, your appetite will return to normal once the original condition is treated.
Bacteria and Viruses
Most commonly, a decreased appetite is due to a bacterial or viral infection. The symptom appears along with other influenza symptoms—such as coughing, tiredness, or sneezing. As these illnesses are typically very short-term and rarely last over a few weeks, your appetite will return to normal quickly.
Psychological Causes
There are various psychological causes for a decreased appetite. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), many elderly people lose their appetites, though the reason why is unknown. (NIH, 2010) Your appetite may also tend to decrease when you are sad, depressed, grieving, or anxious.
Boredom and stress have also been linked to a decreased appetite