There are various reasons why you may not feel hungry in the morning. Waiting a bit before you eat breakfast or experimenting with new ingredients may help boost your morning hunger.

While a lack of morning hunger might sometimes point to an underlying health issue, it’s usually perfectly normal and not something to worry about.

Here are 6 potential reasons you might not feel hungry in the morning.

One of the main reasons why you may not feel hungry when you wake up is that you ate a large dinner or snacks the night before.

This may be especially true if you ate a meal high in fat or protein. These macronutrients may slow the emptying of your stomach and keep you feeling fuller longer — even into the next morning.

ProteinTrusted Source, in particular, may also significantly alter the levels of hormones that regulate your hunger and appetite, including ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1, peptide YY, and cholecystokinin.

Similarly, high fat mealsTrusted Source may alter levels of certain hormones associated with appetite and feelings of fullness, leading to decreased hunger.

If you prefer to enjoy a large dinner and skip or delay breakfast the next morning, that’s completely fine — as long as you make sure to get the nutrients and hydration you need throughout your day.

Overnight and during sleep, the levels of several hormones in your body fluctuate. This may change your appetite.

A 2019 studyTrusted Source observed that levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, were lower in the morning than the night before. This could also explain why you feel less hungry when you wake up.

Note that these daily hormone fluctuations are perfectly natural and not usually a cause for concern. However, if you experience sudden or extreme changes in hunger or appetite, consider talking with a healthcare professional.

Both anxiety and depression may potentially impact your hunger levels.

In addition to symptoms such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, and loss of interest, depressionTrusted Source may cause appetite changes.

Meanwhile, anxietyTrusted Source can increase levels of certain stress hormones that may reduce your appetite.

However, anxiety and depression affect people differently. Some studiesTrusted Source have found that these conditions are instead linked with increased appetite and food intake for some people.

If you’re experiencing anxiety or depression and suspect that it may be affecting your appetite or other aspects of your health, talk with a healthcare professional to determine the best course of treatment for you.

Morning sickness is a common issue characterized by nausea and vomiting. It affects around 80%Trusted Source of people during pregnancy.

Although morning sickness may affect you at any time of day, it often occurs in the morning — hence its name. In most cases, it improves or disappears after 14 weeksTrusted Source of pregnancy.

Morning sickness can reduce your appetite. In fact, in one study in 2,270 pregnant women, 34% reported eating less during early pregnancy.

Besides morning sickness, pregnancy may cause other hunger-reducing symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, and delayed emptying of the stomach.

Staying hydrated, sticking to small meals, trying certain recipes, getting plenty of sleep, and keeping your home well-ventilated to avoid scents that trigger nausea are all strategies that may reduce symptoms and improve your appetite.

Feeling under the weather often causes a decrease in appetite and hunger levels.

In particular, respiratory infectionsTrusted Source such as the common cold, the flu, and pneumonia are known to make you feel less hungry.

In some cases, these infections also limit your sensesTrusted Source of taste and smell, which may reduce your appetite.

Keep in mind that it’s especially important to stay hydrated and fuel your body when you’re sick, even if you don’t feel hungry. Soup, hot tea, bananas, crackers, and applesauce are a few easy-on-the-stomach options to try when you’re not feeling well.

In addition to the more common factors listed above, there are several other possible reasons why you may not feel hungry when you wake up.

Here are a few other potential causes of decreased hunger in the morning:

  • You’re taking certain medications. Many types of medication, including diuretics and antibiotics, may reduceTrusted Source hunger and appetite.
  • You’re getting older. Decreased appetite is common among older adults and can be caused by changes in energy needs, hormones, taste or smell, and social circumstances.
  • You have a thyroid issue. Appetite loss can be a sign of hypothyroidismTrusted Source, or decreased thyroid function.

If you suspect that an underlying condition may be contributing to your lack of hunger in the morning, consult a healthcare professional.

If you’re not feeling hungry right when you wake up, it’s perfectly fine to wait a bit before eating breakfast.

Sometimes, by the time you’ve taken a shower, gotten dressed, and started getting ready for the day, you might feel hungry and ready to eat.

If you’re still not feeling hungry, you can try eating something small and nutrient-dense to stimulate your appetite. Sticking to familiar favorites or experimenting with new ingredients can also get you excited about eating breakfast and spark your appetite.

Here are a few healthy and delicious breakfast ideas:

  • yogurt with berries and granola
  • oatmeal with sliced bananas and a drizzle of honey
  • smoothie with spinach, fresh fruit, and protein powder
  • omelet with mushrooms, tomatoes, bell peppers, and cheese
  • avocado toast topped with an egg

If you find it difficult to eat breakfast because you’re feeling anxious or depressed, building it into your morning routine may be beneficial.

Also, know that it’s completely fine if you prefer to skip breakfast altogether. Just make sure to get the nutrients you need later in the day, hydrate properly, and not ignore any potential negative effects from not eating in the morning, such as headaches, fatigue, or irritability.

Lastly, if you suspect that an underlying health condition could be contributing to your appetite loss, talk with a healthcare professional to determine the best course of treatment for you.

There are many reasons why you may not feel hungry right when you wake up.

In some cases, it could be the result of eating a large dinner the night before, natural fluctuations in your hormone levels, pregnancy, or feeling under the weather.

Sometimes, it may be a sign of a more serious issue, such as anxiety, depression, or another underlying health condition. If you suspect this could be the case, get in touch with a healthcare professional.

Waiting a bit before you eat breakfast, experimenting with new ingredients, or setting healthy habits by building a morning routine may help boost your morning hunger.