Medical Tests to find out cause for low appetite and underweight !!

[vgh88]

I am 28 years old and too skinny. I don't feel hungry. (very low appetite) .What medical tests I should undergo to find out the cause ? Is thyroid test sufficient ?

[Clutter]

Vgh88,

If your only symptoms are lack of appetite and weight loss you may simply need to eat more. I was advised that small frequent meals were helpful in increasing weight and I found protein shakes helpful too.

[vgh88 in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter,

I don't feel much hungry ! After eating small quantity of food I feel full ! I can't eat more forcefully. I heard people with thyroid ,liver problems have low appetite which can be cured ! So wanted to know what medical tests I should undergo to find out the exact cause .

[Clutter in reply to vgh88]

Vgh88,

There are many reasons for having low appetite. If you can't eat sufficient to prevent weight loss you should consult your GP.

[vgh88 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter

[greygoose]

Well, try asking your doctor to start with thyroid tests - TSH, FT4, FT3, TPOab. And, nutrient tests - vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin. If you're not eating enough, these can be deficient, which decreases your appetite even further, and it becomes a vicious circle.

Your doctor might have his own ideas - a full live panel, for example. Try testing for low stomach acid, that would curb your appetite because anything you eat stays in the stomach longer than it should. You could even try a test for Coeliac. But, all that's just off the top of my head, it's not a problem I've ever had!

[vgh88 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks a lot greygoose. I Will meet a doctor soon

[greygoose in reply to vgh88]

You're welcome.

[Jefner]

I have the same problem

[vgh88 in reply to Jefner]

Did you have a thyroid test?

[vgh88]

Thank you so much Sandy12

[Lilac200]

Hi. Just want to encourage you to do as the others suggest, about getting lots of thyroid tests (like for thyroid antibodies, plus Free T4, Free T3, and TSH), plus tests for anemia (like Ferritin, and I don't know what other ones they do for it.) I say this because when I was a child, my appetite wasn't good enough and I was a bit underweight. Also caught too many infections and fevers, etc. This upset my mom a lot, and she tried to build me up as best she could with supplements, good food (even though I couldn't eat that much of it), etc. The well-respected pediatrician I went to apparently thought I fell under the spectrum of "normal," although clearly something was wrong.

When I was eleven, he finally caught on that I had thyroid trouble. And a bad case of it ! I was diagnosed with Graves' Disease (hyperthyroidism); however, my current endocrinologist says I could've had low thyroid (hypothyroidism) first, and it may have swung to Graves' as time went on. Anemia can be related to thyroid, too (like a secondary effect of it), so please make sure they run a good amount of thyroid blood tests (including for the thyroid antibodies, for both low and high thyroid) as well as anemia tests. Just wanted to share my experience, in case it helps. I mean, it could be something else, but definitely a good idea to really check for thyroid trouble & anemia. Best to you!