Abstract

Polyphagia or hyperphagia is excessive hunger or increased appetite.

In medicine

In medicine, polyphagia (sometimes known as hyperphagia) is a medical sign meaning excessive hunger and abnormally large intake of solids by mouth. It can be caused by disorders such as diabetes, Kleine–Levin syndrome (a malfunction in the hypothalamus), and the genetic disorders Prader–Willi syndrome and Bardet–Biedl syndrome. Knocking out vagal nerve receptors has been shown to cause hyperphagia.

Causes

Causes of increased appetite include:

- Anxiety

- Stress

- Depression

- Certain drugs

- Diabetes mellitus

- Hyperthyroidism

- Hypoglycemia

- Fatigue

- Depression

- Premenstrual syndrome

- Prader–Willi syndrome

- Bulimia

- Graves' disease

- Kleine–Levin syndrome

Causes | Diabetic ketoacidosis

Polyphagia usually occurs early in the course of diabetic ketoacidosis. However, once insulin deficiency becomes more severe and ketoacidosis develops, appetite is suppressed.

Etymology and pronunciation

The word "polyphagia" () uses combining forms of "" + "", from the Greek words πολύς (polys), "very much" or "many", and φαγῶ (phago), "eating" or "devouring".