Why Aren’t You Hungry During a Heatwave?

You Should Know: During a heatwave, doing just about anything can feel exhausting — including eating. Cooking is less appealing when your kitchen already feels like an oven, and our appetite for anything can disappear when temperatures soar. 

Going Deeper: So why might a heatwave make us feel less hungry? Coping with extreme heat can put other bodily functions, including digestion, on the back burner. Digestion and nutrient absorption use a lot of energy, so slowing this process down may help the body converse energy for cooling itself and shed some excess heat. The heat may also affect the hunger and satiety hormones ghrelin and leptin, which can influence our appetites. At the same time, when the body overheats, blood flow is redirected to the skin (away from the digestive organs) to help cool it down.

Takeaway: Young children and older adults are more susceptible to appetite changes and dehydration in intense heat, as are people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions and those taking GLP-1 medications.  

Bottom Line: If eating a full meal feels unappetizing, snack on cooling, water-filled foods throughout the day, like fruits and veggies, or eat later in the day when it’s cooler.