Polyphagia, or excessive eating, describes a condition where an individual consumes large amounts of food, often accompanied by a persistent feeling of hunger or becoming hungry soon after eating. This can signal underlying health issues requiring management to prevent obesity. Obesity, in turn, increases the risk of hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, and certain cancers. Below are some common causes.

Both type mot and type hai diabetes can lead to increased hunger. The condition disrupts insulin production and utilization, causing elevated blood sugar levels. Consequently, cells do not receive enough glucose for energy, resulting in constant hunger. This often presents with thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, and fatigue. Poorly managed diabetes can lead to vision loss and numbness in the limbs.

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces an excess of thyroid hormones, leading to an overactive thyroid. This hormonal imbalance impacts metabolism, causing body cells to rapidly use energy and increasing hunger to meet the body's high energy demands. Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss despite increased appetite, a fast heart rate, sweating, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, depression, heat intolerance, hair loss, and goiter.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) encompasses physical and emotional symptoms that appear a few days to one week before menstruation. Typical manifestations include rapid hunger, cravings for sweets, constipation or diarrhea, lower abdominal pain, headaches, mood swings, and fatigue. These signs typically resolve when the menstrual cycle ends.

Prader-Willi syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a gene defect on chromosome 15, affecting an individual's mental state and behavior. Those with this syndrome often experience hormonal dysregulation that controls appetite, leading to constant hunger.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating. Individuals with BN often self-induce vomiting, fast, over-exercise, or misuse laxatives, accompanied by feelings of guilt and shame after eating. These binge-eating episodes result in intense food cravings and excessive consumption, though body weight may increase, decrease, or remain normal.

Graves' disease is an endocrine disorder caused by an overactive thyroid, which increases metabolism and leads to rapid hunger and increased food intake.

Anh Chi (According to Health)