Waking up to the hidden health risks behind low appetite

Eating less is often dismissed as something that comes with age or illness. But experts warn it's not inevitable and there can be long-term side-effects and hidden dangers

- BY MATT NIXSON

Low appetite is rarely seen as a health issue.

More often, it’s brushed aside as “not being that hungry”, a side-effect of stress or simply a feature of ageing. But eating too little over time can undermine strength, recovery, immunity and long-term independence. It’s also easy to miss.Weight does not always fall dramatically and people can appear “fine” while eating less and less. Yet reduced food intake means fewer calories, less protein and fewer vitamins and minerals that support muscle, cognition and immunity.

A reduced appetite can be triggered by ageing, dementia, illness, medications, stress, bereavement, loneliness and depression.

Understanding why appetite reduces and how to support nutrition when intake is genuinely low is increasingly seen as key to protecting health in mid to later life.

AGEING AND DEMENTIA

Appetite commonly declines with age but is rarely recognised as a red flag.

Nutritionist Rob Hobson, whose Low Appetite Cookbook is out now, says that while energy needs may fall, nutritional needs do not.

“People assume being less hungry as you get older is normal,” he explains. “But it can lead to real nutritional gaps and muscle loss if it persists.”

Protein requirements actually increase with age because older muscles respond less efficiently to protein. Taste and smell dull, digestion slows and chewing may be more difficult. Appetite cues weaken and meals are skipped simply because hunger isn't felt clearly. Social factors contribute too.

“Eating is a social behaviour,” Rob says. “When people live alone or lose a partner, meals are often skipped or simplified.”