Causes of Hunger Symptoms (2024)

The feeling of being hungry comes from movements in your stomach signaling to the body that it needs nutrients. When the body signals symptoms of hunger, the feeling is in the stomach area. There are additional feelings that can vary from person to person. Many people experience low energy, irritability, shakiness, headaches, and problems focusing.

Hunger is a normal feeling for most people, but it can also be a sign of a health problem such as hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, or type 2 diabetes.

This article discusses hunger, what it feels like, and signs that it may be related to a medical condition.

Frequent Hunger Symptom Causes

Most people experience hunger because the body is signaling that it needs food. Hunger symptoms can also have other causes, however. These include:

• Stress
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypoglycemia
• Type 2 diabetes

Stress

Stress can cause a lot of health issues. When you are stressed, the adrenal glands release cortisol, a hormone known to increase appetite.

When you are stressed, you may be inclined to choose "comfort" foods and foods that contain carbohydrates and sugar. Stress combined with overeating unhealthy foods can lead to both short- and long-term health issues.

It is important to reduce stress through:

• Rest
• Meditation
• Exercise

It is also important to understand what is causing your stress so it can be managed.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is the result of an overactive thyroid.

The thyroid gland controls the metabolism in the body. When the thyroid is overactive, it can cause problems, including excessive hunger. This happens because when the thyroid is overactive, the body uses more energy.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia occurs when the blood sugar levels in your body drop so low that your body is no longer getting the energy it needs.

Hypoglycemia can happen if you are too hungry or have exercised without eating properly. Low blood sugar can occur in people who have diabetes and are taking medications that have hypoglycemia as a side effect.

If you don't have diabetes, other causes of hypoglycemia include:

• Alcohol use
• Certain medications
• Metabolic problems
• Diseases of the kidney, liver, or pancreas

If you are experiencing hypoglycemia, be sure to discuss it with your healthcare provider.

Type 2 Diabetes

When you have diabetes, you may feel excessive hunger symptoms (polyphagia). This happens because when your body lacks insulin, glucose is not easily transferred into cells to be used for energy. Because the body isn't getting the energy it needs from the food already eaten, it continues to send hunger signals to the brain.

If you are experiencing excessive hunger with type 2 diabetes, let your healthcare provider know right away.

Rare Hunger Symptom Causes

Prader-Willi syndrome is a genetic condition. It is caused by non-working or missing chromosome 15 genes. This condition causes symptoms in several parts of the body.

Infants who have the condition have difficulties with:

• Feeding
• Slow growth
• Low muscle tone

In early childhood, a child with Prader-Willi syndrome may experience excessive hunger, which can lead to obesity.

Other symptoms include:

• Obsessive-compulsive tendencies
• Developmental delays
• Cognitive impairment

Overeating and weight gain typically start around 24 months. Excessive food cravings and obsessive-compulsive tendencies can lead to consuming large portions of food and hoarding food.

This condition can cause:

• Endocrine issues
• Hypothyroidism
• Underdeveloped organs and muscles

Complications

Excessive hunger may indicate an underlying health condition, which may put you at risk for certain complications. These conditions and complications include:

• Being overweight
• Diabetes
• Mortality
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Consulting a healthcare professional can help you understand why you have unexplained hunger symptoms. If hunger symptoms are persistent due to medication or diabetes, it is especially important to see your healthcare provider.

A dietitian can also help with proper food choices and portion sizes. But again, if your hunger symptoms feel abnormal and you don’t have a diagnosed medical condition, it wouldn’t hurt to schedule an appointment with your healthcare professional to find out what is causing the hunger symptoms.

Summary

Hunger is a normal feeling triggered by the body's need for food. It is typically felt in the stomach area, but there can also be other hunger-related feelings like low energy, irritability, and headaches.

Some people may also experience hunger in response to stress or because of conditions like hyperthyroidism or diabetes. Rarely, hunger may be associated with a genetic condition called Prader-Willi syndrome.