What causes a lack of appetite during summer?
Oct 14, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhao Haiming
Introduction
Not wanting to eat during summer may be due to hot weather causing irritability and dry mouth, which in turn affects appetite. It could also result from heat exhaustion, which impairs digestive function and leads to loss of appetite. Additionally, high temperatures cause blood vessels throughout the body to dilate, reducing gastrointestinal digestive capacity and causing indigestion, which may also lead to the aforementioned symptoms.
Loss of appetite during summer may be caused by factors such as hot weather, heatstroke, or indigestion.
1. Hot weather
Summer is generally hot, which can easily lead to excessive fluid loss, causing irritability, dry mouth, and a parched throat. These conditions can affect one's appetite, resulting in a lack of desire to eat.
2. Heatstroke
During summer, heatstroke can impair nervous system function and also affect digestive function, leading to a loss of appetite. It may also be accompanied by abnormal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
3. Indigestion
Blood is primarily distributed in blood vessels and muscles. In hot summer weather, blood vessels throughout the body may dilate, reducing blood supply to the stomach and other internal organs. This can impair gastrointestinal digestive function, leading to insufficient gut motility and indigestion. After eating, food cannot be digested and absorbed quickly enough by the body, affecting appetite and manifesting as a reluctance to eat.
