Still hot summer, losing your appetite more and more?

Although late August has begun, heatwave warnings are still in effect in most regions across the country.

Loss of appetite. [Image source=Clipart Korea]

In particular, the 23rd of this month marks Cheoseo (處暑), one of the 24 solar terms, which signifies the end of the heat and the transition from summer to autumn. However, the Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts that after rain during the week, the heat will return with daytime temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius.

Since late July, the hot and humid weather has persisted for over a month, causing many people to lose their appetite and feel weak due to poor eating habits. This symptom is not merely psychological.

Our bodies perform various functions to maintain a normal body temperature of 36 to 37°C. Especially in the hot summer months, the basal metabolic rate required to maintain body temperature is lower than in other seasons. Therefore, the need to consume energy sources to maintain body temperature decreases naturally, leading to a reduced food intake. Additionally, the surplus energy caused by reduced physical activity due to the heat lowers appetite.

Eating during the hot summer generates a lot of heat. To prevent a rise in body temperature, the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin is secreted, which reduces appetite. Moreover, heatwaves trigger the release of stress hormones that weaken gastrointestinal motility and decrease digestive enzyme secretion.

When the autonomic nervous system balance is disrupted by indoor and outdoor temperature differences, the sympathetic nervous system is activated to adapt to the external environment. However, the parasympathetic nervous system, which is involved in digestion, is suppressed, leading to impaired stomach and intestinal function, poor digestion, and reduced desire for food.

A loss of appetite, characterized by a reduced or complete lack of desire to eat compared to usual intake, is common in such conditions. If it is simply caused by the hot summer environment, it naturally recovers as the season changes.

However, if the loss of appetite symptoms ▲persist for more than two weeks ▲worsen ▲result in a weight loss of more than 5% ▲or are accompanied by other symptoms such as depression or coughing, it is advisable to visit a medical institution for diagnosis to rule out other diseases.

Kim Yoon-mi, head of the Comprehensive Health Screening Center at Daedong Hospital and a specialist in family medicine, said, “It is easy to think that loss of appetite due to heat is natural, but our bodies need essential nutrients, especially for the elderly or those with underlying conditions such as hypertension or diabetes, who should be more careful.” She advised, “Eating too much cold or spicy food because of the heat can lead to abdominal pain and diarrhea, so it is best to consume sufficient fluids along with a variety of seasonal foods.”

Yoonmi Kim, Head of the Comprehensive Health Screening Center at Daedong Hospital.

Loss of appetite in summer is a natural adaptation process of the body to the hot external environment, so care should be taken to maintain the indoor and outdoor temperature difference within 5 degrees Celsius. In spaces with strong air conditioning, it is recommended to wear thin long sleeves and drink warm water rather than cold beverages.

If it is difficult to eat the usual amount of food, try eating small amounts frequently and gradually increase to the usual quantity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.