Your body relies on food for energy, so it's normal to feel hungry if you don't eat for a few hours. But if your stomach has a constant rumble, even after a meal, something could be going on with your health.
"Polyphagia" is the medical term used for extreme hunger, and it can be a sign that you need to check in with your doctor.
Could It Be Diabetes?
Your body turns the sugar in food into fuel called glucose. But when you have diabetes, glucose can't reach your cells. Your body pees it out instead and tells you to eat more.
People who have Type 1 diabetes, in particular, may take in large amounts of food and still lose weight.
In addition to a spike in appetite, other symptoms of diabetes include
Extreme thirst
Blurry vision
Cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal
Tingling or pain in your hands or feet
Fatigue
Could It Be Low Blood Sugar?
Hypoglycemia is what you have when the glucose in your body s to very low levels. People with diabetes are most at risk, but other health problems also can cause it. They include hepatitis, kidney disorders, and issues with your adrenal or pituitary glands.
In severe cases, people with hypoglycemia may seem drunk. They may slur their words and have trouble walking. Other symptoms are:
Anxiety
Feeling like your heart is skipping a beat
Pale skin
Shaking
Sweating
Tingling around the mouth
Could It Be a Lack of Sleep?
If you don't get enough rest, it can affect the hormones in your body that control hunger. People who are sleep deprived have a bigger appetite and find it harder to feel full. You're also more likely to crave high-fat, high-calorie foods when you're tired.
Other symptoms of sleep deprivation are
Change in mood
Clumsiness
Having a hard time staying alert
Increase in accidents
Trouble staying awake during the day
Weight gain
Could It Be Stress?
When you're anxious or tense, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. This amps up your feeling of hunger.
Many people under stress also crave foods high in sugar, fat, or both. It may be your body's attempt to "shut off" the part of your brain that causes you to worry.
Other symptoms may include
Angry outbursts
Fatigue
Headache
Sleep problems
Stomach upset
Could It Be Your Diet
Not all foods fill you up the same way. The ones that curb hunger best are high in protein -- like lean meats, fish, or dairy products -- or high in fiber. Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
Pastries, white bread, many packaged meals, and fast foods lack these nutrients but are high in fat and unhealthy carbs. If you eat a lot of these, you could find yourself hungry again soon after a meal -- and you may eat more than you should.
Other signs that your food choices don't fill you up include
Constipation
Small, hard stools
Stomach pain
Could It Be Your Medication?
Some drugs can make you want to eat more than usual. Antihistamines are known for this as are SSRIs (anti-depressants), steroids, some diabetes medicines, and antipsychotic drugs.
If you've gained weight since you started the medication, it could be that the medicine is making you feel hungry. Talk to you doctor to find out what other drugs might work for you.
Could You Be Pregnant?
Many moms-to-be notice a huge leap in appetite. This is your body's way of making sure the baby gets enough nutrients to grow.
Most women gain between 4 and 6 pounds during the first trimester and then 1 pound a week during the second and third.
Other signs that you might be pregnant are
A missed period
A frequent urge to pee
Nausea
Sore breasts or breasts that get bigger
Could It Be Your Thyroid?
Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. It produces hormones that control the rate at which every organ in your body functions. If your thyroid is working too quickly, you could have hyperthyroidism.
Besides an enlarged thyroid gland, other signs of hyperthyroidism are
Fast pulse
Feeling nervous
More sweat than normal
Muscle weakness
Thirst even after drinking
Could It Be Diet Soda?
Many people drink sugar-free soda to count calories or lose weight. But the fake sugar in these drinks tells your brain to expect calories it can use for fuel. When your body doesn't get any, your "hunger switch" is turned on and your body tells you to get calories from food instead.
If diet soda is making you hungry, other symptoms can include
Headaches
Sugar cravings
Weight gain
