US Medical Term · symptoms
Loss of Appetite
Pérdida de apetito
Also: Falta de apetito (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Loss of Appetite |
| Spanish (Español) | Pérdida de apetito |
| Chinese (中文) | 食慾不振 |
| Korean (한국어) | 식욕 감퇴 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Chán ăn |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Kawalan ng gana sa pagkain |
| Portuguese (Português) | Perda de apetite |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | เบื่ออาหาร |
| Japanese (日本語) | 食欲不振 |
What it means
Loss of appetite, medically called anorexia, means a reduced desire to eat. It is different from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. Short-term loss of appetite commonly accompanies viral illness, nausea, or emotional stress and usually resolves on its own. Persistent loss of appetite lasting more than a week, or accompanied by unintentional weight loss, fatigue, or other symptoms, can signal conditions such as chronic infection, liver disease, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, depression, or cancer. Any significant or unexplained loss of appetite lasting more than one to two weeks should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I have no desire to eat and I've barely eaten anything in three days.
No tengo ganas de comer y apenas he comido nada en tres días.
Everything looks and smells unappetizing and food has no flavor.
Todo me parece poco apetitoso y la comida no tiene sabor.
I've lost ten pounds in the past month without trying to diet.
He perdido cinco kilos en el último mes sin hacer dieta.
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
R63 Symptoms and signs concerning food and fluid intakeRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026