Doctor named a concerning reason for lack of appetite in the mornings

Lack of appetite in the morning may be associated with hormonal imbalance, in particular - with elevated levels of cortisol, the main stress hormone. Dietitian Natalie Burrows told the Daily Mail about this in an interview.

According to the specialist, during sleep the body uses glucose reserves stored in the liver. When these are depleted, the adrenal glands begin to produce cortisol to maintain blood sugar levels. This hormone helps you wake up, however, excess cortisol can suppress appetite.

"If you wake up without wanting to eat, this may indicate elevated cortisol levels," Burrows explained.

In addition, the effects of melatonin - the sleep hormone that slows down digestive processes - may still persist in the body in the morning. Studies show that sometimes it takes one to two hours for melatonin levels to decrease and for hunger to appear. Another common cause of morning appetite loss, according to the expert, is disruption of the circadian rhythm - the internal biological clock that regulates sleep, wakefulness, and hunger.

To normalize these processes, the dietitian advised going outside or letting daylight into the room within half an hour after waking up. It's also important to maintain a sleep schedule and not replace breakfast with a cup of coffee: caffeine stimulates adrenaline production, creating an illusion of energy, but overloads the adrenal glands.

Burrows emphasized that neither morning fatigue nor the desire to lose weight are sufficient reasons to skip breakfast. Missing the first meal of the day, according to her, can lead to sharp fluctuations in blood sugar levels and, contrary to expectations, make weight control more difficult.