thin but constantly hungry

We often think being thin is the same thing as being “healthy,” but this is not necessarily true. Recent studies show that skinny people who eat everything in sight yet never gain a pound are at an increased risk of developing cancer, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and heart disease. Let’s take a closer look at what it might mean if you are thin but constantly hungry.

What is Over-Nutrition?

How can thin people be unhealthy? It is called “over-nutrition,” and it is a condition that develops when we eat or drink more calories than our bodies require. Some of us have the genetic ability to dump this excess energy into fat cells, while others are not as capable of producing extra body fat. But all that excess energy still has to go somewhere. Combining this “skinny genetic trait” with excessive hunger provides a recipe for the early development of many different medical issues.

Many thin people do not have a “lucky” metabolism after all. Their thin bodies, just like overweight bodies, feature damage caused by poor eating habits. We are now seeing thin people develop chronic illnesses before their heavier counterparts.

Am I saying it’s good to be overweight? No, not at all. I am saying that the production of fat is a visible nutritional alarm system, but some people were born without this warning sign. If someone does not produce much body fat, they consume all of those excess calories and energy without any clue that something toxic is happening to their body on the inside. “Thin but constantly hungry” signals this issue.

What Happens to Excess Energy?

Excess energy not stored as fat typically deposits into our organs, which can have dangerous consequences. Excess energy stored in the liver causes fatty liver disease and is now the most common cause of liver transplantation. This excess energy stored in the pancreas damages its ability to produce insulin, elevating blood sugar. Excess energy stored in the heart renders the heart muscle stiff and incapable of pumping correctly and may result in congestive heart failure.

What “Thin but Constantly Hungry” Might Mean

Why are we so hungry? Excessive hunger can be from a damaged autonomic nervous system due to a head injury, emotional trauma, childbirth, or a surge in inflammation, as seen with COVID, surgeries, and excessive vaccine reactions. The control of our hunger is also influenced by bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine (SIBO), the constant onslaught of food industry marketing, and easy access to addictive and calorie-dense foods.

If you (or your kids) are not overweight yet are always eating and are constantly hungry, understand this does not mean you have magical metabolism. You might be rapidly approaching illness and poor health, but you can stop this disease cycle. By rebalancing your autonomic nervous system and reversing bacterial overgrowth, we can help normalize your hunger and get your metabolism back on a healthier track.

Interested in Learning More?

I am a classically trained internal medicine physician from UCLA, and my private office is located in Phoenix, Arizona. My research background focuses on the Autonomic Nervous System, brain metabolism, and metabolic inflammation. I now use this training and experience to reverse disease by utilizing all available scientific tools to induce the nervous system and organs to repair themselves by normalizing inflammation, improving natural brain repair and rejuvenation mechanisms, and using vagus nerve stimulation.
For more information on autonomic nervous system recovery, you may call my office at 623-208-4226 or learn from my website, screencasts, and blog at www.nemechekautonomicmedicine.com. To receive our monthly articles be sure to both “Like” and “Follow” Nemechek Consultative Medicine on Facebook.
 
© 2023. Dr. Patrick M. Nemechek and Jean R. Nemechek. All Rights Reserved.
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Patrick Nemechek, D.O.

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Jorgia
Jorgia
June 18, 2019 1:24 pm

Hi, I am 20 years old, 49kg & and 5f5. I eat way more than anyone i know. At least 4 pieces of toast/bowel of porage/cup of tea(breckfast), 1 large bowel of leftovers from the night before/2 nutritional bars /2pieces of fruit/container of mixed nuts/water(lunch),and 2 bowels of cooked dinner. I used to be a relatively highly sporty person but even now I’ve never been able to gain much weight at all or even lose from the weight i am.Though i have recently become dairy intolrent it haven’t changed my appetite & how much i eat(which has been increasing with… Read more »

Sharon
Sharon
February 20, 2019 1:06 am

I will be 58 and 108 pounds, 5’ 6” My entire life I have eaten more then anyone I know and it costs a fortune. Until about a year ago I ate very healthy, no animals, or processed canned or boxed food, I have always loved dessert. I eat 3 huge meals a day and snack in between. Now I can’t afford to eat healthy so I eat what ever I can get my hands on w/ exception of animals. I am always hungry, seldom can I eat enough to be full. Almost daily I get the shakes and have… Read more »

Cumorah Kowallis
Cumorah Kowallis
October 9, 2018 7:34 pm

While this isn’t for me, it is for my sister. She is 5’4′ and weighs 90 pounds she is only 13 but has always been underweight. My family has tried everything to help her gain weight but she can’t though she is constantly hungry and constantly eating. She doesn’t even grow fast . She also has a heart murmur she was born with and was very small when she was born, she even stopped growing while my mom was pregnant with her. Should I be worried about this, her not gaining weight, with all this extra info I have given… Read more »

Deb
Deb
June 1, 2018 12:47 am

I am 5’7. I weigh 90 pounds. I eat about 10,000 calories a day, I am a 68 year old woman and work full time as a waiter. I do not know what it would feel like to sit down and relax, it just does not happen, I am seeing my family and friends slowing down, but I cannot. About 30 years ago I was told I needed to eat protein to control my hypoglycaemia. I believe I eat a very healthy diet. I am exhausting everyone I love. I never get answers. Everyone always says how jealous they are… Read more »

Jessie
Jessie
March 15, 2018 6:56 am

Can these symptoms come with peripheral neuropathy? The angina is also freaking me out. What’s weird is my average heart rate was slowly increasing in average over a period of a few months. My anger and blood sugar too (not diabetic). Then it hit an average of 102, then it started falling. It’s still falling, even my body temperature, anger, I have brain fog now, I have no motivation, and I have painful neuropathy among a million other symptoms. What was this roller coaster? It was like for a while I was high, motivated, studying, I got awesome grades, I… Read more »

Wingyu
Wingyu
February 7, 2018 11:16 am

Hi Doctor. I’m 20 years old male and weigh 48kg and 1.75 m tall. I do have meals in fair quantity but have been skinny all my life. I’m a typical individual who doesn’t gain weight at all and neither do I have a record of weight loss. Besides having lactose intolerance, I found myself always hungry and had barely any weight change after eating. After reading this article, I am seriously concerned of my “constant hunger” and how may I gain weight (maybe protein powder is a good option…)? Thank you.

Sandra
Sandra
February 3, 2018 4:53 pm

Hi Doctor, I eat 3 times daily but I keep growing thin. I am experiencing lots of stress too. I don’t know if the cause of my continuous weight loss would be as a result of the stress or it could be because I’m not eating enough. I find it difficult to sleep too

Jonas
Jonas
January 4, 2018 4:03 pm

I weigh 63 kilos i am about 1 8 metres tall I keep losing weight if I don’t eat almost constantly.
I have a mix of ADHD and tourettes syndrome. I take two pills each morning (36 mg methyl phelnidate). I talked to my doctor about it and he told me that I just a big appetite.
I just find it weird, if that’s the casr, that the side effect of taking the medicine I need to be capable of having a job could kill me.
Who should I contact?

Handra
Handra
January 3, 2018 12:59 pm

Hi Dr, Nemechek, Good day. I have a question regarding my condition. I am 32 years old, weight 69.4KG, height 173cm. I have been having this constant hunger for quite long. Around 2 hours or more after I eat my meal, it’s really normal for me to start feeling hungry again. However, I notice that this is quite unlikely to happen when I am busy with work. During weekends, when I mostly just stay home, this symptom occurres. I stumbled upon your blog and wondering if my condition is due to the autonomous nervous system as well? I am diagnosed… Read more »

Karen
Karen
November 26, 2017 12:56 pm

Patrick, iyou said “Foods with salt or carbs boost BP to brain. Brain makes you feel hungry in order to get more oxygen. Then how is it connected to not gaining weight even consuming thousands and thousands of calories a day?

Mia S.
Mia S.
October 18, 2017 12:42 am

hey my sister is a very talented and skinny gymnast and she eats non stop, if she eats a meal like 5 minutes later she is like, “mom i’m starving” but all she eats is the junk food or anything she can get her hands on. I have always thought that once she stops gymnastics she will see the consequences but i never thought she could get diseases from this until now i actually searched it up because we just had a big dinner and she just said ” im gonna go eat now”juuuuuuuuuuuuust how is anyone’s metabolism so high?… Read more »

Reta Mae Buchanan
Reta Mae Buchanan
September 29, 2017 11:20 pm

Dr Nemecheck, I have a Failure to thrive child on the Autism Spectrum. In fact,m wearent even sure thats where she fits, But my description of her- is at age 11- she weighs just 50 lbs, Thin, thin limbs, Huge protruding belly, directly after eating. Major gas and bloating, and she is constantly Hungry- searching for food- poor thing cannot get enough food, Its soo frustrating, I know she has some type of metabolic disorder, Her Bowel movements are NOT correct- they fluctuate widely- mostly on the looser, and unformed side. GI doctor told me , he cannot help her.… Read more »

Ludka
Ludka
December 6, 2016 10:17 pm

Hi doctor! I went off the birth control in July after 14 years. I lost some weight ( I was skinny to begin with) and then it stabilized a bit. I haven’t had my period since July so I’m still waiting for that to come back. Just in recent weeks I started feeling very hungry all the time and I do eat what I want but not gaining any weight back. I don’t necessarily crave food but I feel hungry. I’ve been having some serious abdominal, like cramps pain past few days so I’m assuming I will get my period… Read more »

Patrick Nemechek, D.O.
Patrick Nemechek, D.O.
December 9, 2016 1:40 am
Reply to  Ludka

Patient with autonomic problems often have low cerebral perfusion. Progesterone in BCPs boosts blood pressure to the brain (see article Menopause is Permanent PMS). Stop BCP, blood pressure to brain drops and if there is pre-existing autonomic dysfunction, nervous system is unable to compensate and brain does not get enough oxygen because of cerebral hypoperfusion. Foods with salt or carbs boost BP to brain. Brain makes you feel hungry in order to get more oxygen

K
K
November 21, 2016 11:16 pm

Hello,
I am 19 I weigh just under 8 stone and I am quite tall, I find myself always hungry although I don’t always eat large meals, When I lie down my head always hurts like am lying on a rock I don’t know whether this is connected but best to know, I never gain any weight but find my self constantly eating. I want to know whether I should get assessed by a doctor or if it’s nothing to worry about?

Patrick Nemechek, D.O.
Patrick Nemechek, D.O.
November 23, 2016 2:02 am
Reply to  K

I think you you should go see your doctor.

Sara
Sara
November 3, 2016 6:53 pm

I always feel hungry and I over sleep all the time…I am really really thin and the doctor’s don’t know why I’m scared I might have parasites..Please help.

William
William
August 27, 2016 11:19 am

I am not really thin or fat but I eat at least twice what any of my friends eat. I usually eat four times a day and I am very hungry at those times. My abnormal hunger has been with me my whole life. In my family this is attributed to the “family gene” and that could be true. They say my mom’s grandfather ate a huge amount and her brother seems to. My mom might have it a little but one of my sisters definitely does. I find being so hungry to be more annoying than anything else, when… Read more »

Gabriel
Gabriel
August 5, 2016 10:28 am

Good morning

I feel hungry in less than 30minutes I finished a meal and I still look skinny, even eating late night and waking up the next morning it more like I didn’t eat last night.
Pls what’s wrong and what can I do?

Sandy
Sandy
May 29, 2016 7:45 pm

I feel like I always need to be eating. After lunch, even if I’m full, I always find myself eating some more. I’m very skinny for my height and I’m finding that I keep getting sick from these habits. How can I stop this??

Katty
Katty
January 18, 2016 5:23 am

Hi Dr. Please help me. I weigh 105 I’m 23 years old and I am constantly hungry.. All the time I can have a huge meal and within one hr I’m hungry again… I can’t eat and eat and not gain a pound. What can I do to help myself.

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