Why am I always starving?

Are you constantly staring into the fridge? Natasha Holt discovers some surprising causes of those hunger pangs

Half of us say we have put on weight since the first lockdown and while much of that might be down to boredom, many people report they have felt hungrier than usual too. But did you know that could be a sign of underlying health problems? Diabetes: Feeling hungry all the time can be an early indicator of diabetes. “When you’re diabetic, your body is either not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or it has become less sensitive to it,” explains Dr Deborah Lee, of the Dr Fox Online Pharmacy (doctorfox.co.uk).

“As a result, although glucose levels are high in the bloodstream, glucose cannot get inside individual cells. These cells then send out messages all the time that your glucose levels are low and you need to eat.”

If you’re constantly hungry and thirsty, passing urine frequently and feeling very tired, see your GP.

Low mood: A 2018 obesity study showed that stress often results in increased appetite and food cravings. Anxiety is also associated with emotional eating and an increased susceptibility to hunger, so if you’re struggling with a low mood it stands to reason that you may be feeling hungrier than usual.

“Stress, depression and anxiety have been shown to increase levels of the hormone ghrelin, which tells you that it’s time to eat,” says Dr Lee.

Too much alcohol: Not only is alcohol calorific in itself, but it also stimulates the appetite.

“Considering the high number of calories in alcohol, it would be natural to assume that if you drank alcohol with a meal it would lead to a reduction in food intake,” says Dr Lee.

“But, sadly, this isn’t the case. In one 2017 study in mice, those fed alcohol before and during a meal had on average a 10-25 per cent increase in food consumption.” Hyperthyroidism: Another medical condition that stimulates the appetite is hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid gland.

“Your thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine, and this controls your metabolic rate,” explains Dr Lee.

“An overactive thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine which increases your hunger. You may also find you burn more energy, so if you’re constantly hungry but also losing weight, see your doctor.

“Conversely, an underactive thyroid gland produces too little thyroxine, which causes sluggishness, lethargy and energy conservation. So, while you might not feel as hungry, this tends to lead to weight gain.”

Lack of sleep: “There seems to be a strong correlation between sleep deprivation and weight gain, and this has been proven in several research studies,” says Dr Lee.

“One possible reason for this is that sleep deprivation is associated with higher ghrelin and lower levels of leptin, the hormone that regulates your appetite.

“This combination results in lowered physical activity and increased appetite and food intake.” Medication: “A variety of drugs are associated with hunger and weight gain,” says Dr Lee. “Antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, for example, and also antidepressants.

“This is because these medications interfere with the neurotransmitters in the brain, causing your brain to send out false messages that you are hungry.”

Steroids have also been linked to weight gain, as are beta blockers, which are often taken to treat high blood pressure.

“Steroids seem to stimulate your appetite, while beta blockers are associated with weight gain if you use them long term, possibly because they cause tiredness and lethargy and a reduced desire to exercise,” adds Dr Lee.

“Exercise reduces appetite because it reduces circulating levels of the hormone ghrelin, so if you’re not exercising you might feel hungrier.”