Polyphagia or Increased Appetite

The symptoms of polyphagia are:

• Eating more than the usual quantity
• Increased portion size
• Feeling hungry immediately after eating food
• Lethargy
• Weight gain
• Unusual sweating

The common causes of polyphagia are:

• Diabetes mellitus: In the case of uncontrolled diabetes, there is a lack of insulin in the body so the cells of the body cannot make food (energy) from the glucose or the sugar present in the blood. To compensate for the lack of energy, the appetite increases. Along with polyphagia, a person with diabetes would also suffer from polydipsia (excessive thirst) and polyuria (excessive urinating). 
• Hypoglycemia: In the case of low sugar levels in the bloodstream, medically called hypoglycemia, the cells of the body lack energy and need food for their proper working. This leads to an increased appetite.
• Stress and anxiety: During any stressful situation, the body releases the stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol increases appetite and the person feels hungry.
• Lack of sleep: The level of ghrelin, the hunger hormone which spikes the appetite, increases in a sleep-deprived state. 
• Bulimia nervosa: Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder where the person involves in eating way too much, followed by purging.
• Binge eating disorder: Binge eating disorder is an eating disorder where the person eats an unusually large amount of food.
• Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid hormone levels increase in the bloodstream which eventually speeds up the metabolism. Since the food gets metabolised faster, the affected person feels hungry very frequently. 
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): Premenstrual syndrome consists of a series of symptoms that a woman shows before menstruation. One of these symptoms includes excessive hunger. 

Although rare, polyphagia can also be seen in the case of Kleine-Levin Syndrome (excessive sleeping) and Prader-Willi Syndrome (a genetic disorder with persistent hunger).

There are no specific preventive measures for polyphagia but these are the few tips that can help prevent polyphagia:

• You must sleep for at least 8 hours a day for the proper functioning of the body.
• Avoid stressful situations as much as possible. 
• Meditate to keep your mind calm and stress-free.
• Eat fibre-rich food like whole grains, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

The diagnosis of polyphagia depends on the underlying condition. Your doctor may prescribe you the following tests in order to diagnose the condition:

• Blood sugar test: Blood sugar test is done to find out the sugar levels in the blood.
• Endoscopy: Endoscopy of the oesophagus (food pipe) is done to check the signs of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which are present in the case of eating disorders.
• Thyroid function test: Thyroid function tests are done to find out the levels of thyroid hormone in the blood. 

The treatment of polyphagia is done by treating the underlying conditions:

• Diabetes mellitus is treated with the help of insulin which is either delivered in the form of a tablet or an injection. The insulin helps in maintaining the blood sugar levels in the body.
• Glucose tablets are given to manage the condition of hypoglycemia. The person is asked to carry candies or juice cans with them all the time as the glucose levels can drop at any moment of the day which can be life-threatening. 
• In the case of eating disorders, counselling from the psychotherapist, cognitive behavioural therapies and support groups can help in removing the negative thoughts and behaviours. These therapies encourage people to accept themselves the way they are. 
• Hyperthyroidism can be treated with the help of antithyroid agents and beta-blockers which help in keeping the thyroid hormone levels in limits.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the medications given to women to manage the change in behaviour in PMS. SSRIs restrict the action of those chemical messengers of the brain (neurotransmitters) which activate mood swings.