Does your stomach shrink with age?

[Ginger1982]

A few years ago I could literally hammer a Chinese takeaway. Starter, main, sides, prawn crackers, you name it. I'm having one tonight and I've probably eaten half my main if that. I feel so full and I've barely eaten today. What is wrong with me?? I've been noticing this a lot recently. I just don't seem to have the same appetite.

Oh I hope so

I wish.

unfortunately not for me

Not sure about stomach exactly but metabolism I think does. I noticed I eat less than i would in the past.

Definitely. I consciously eat less but I find that even in a special occasion I cannot eat a large quantity of anything.

For me, yes. I'm in my 40s and probably eat about half of what I used to! I've lost three stone over the past 4/5 years - wish it had happened 20 years ago but there you go.

Has anything else changed, Ginger? Not wishing to be a bird of doom but a friend of ours was unable to eat much before feeling completely full and turned out he had a tumour. Tell you doctor, it needs checking.

I'm 57....I eat far less than when I was 27
.....if I did I would be huge....I had a very fast metabolism when I was younger

No. Mine sticks out like a pot belly loads more than it did when I was in my 30s/40s. I try to breathe in, but its not happening.

I us usually only have one course when I eat out or share a starter or a dessert very rarely eat three courses .
Years ago I could easily eat three courses.

But do you choose to eat less or can you physically not eat as much?

Yes, how old are you?

my appetite is huge but am “only” 50 and do lots of exercise

my dad is 80 and eats about half of what he used to

same with my PILs

if you are still young though, I wonder if you have a healthy weight? If not maybe get it checked out!

if you’re say, 40, and bmi of 19 check with your GP

I am full on far less food....if I eat out I have a main only....when i was younger I would have had a starter and a dessert .....I am the same size I was 30 plus years ago....but then I could eat so much more.

Not yet convinced

It did for my grandmother. She said she never gets hungry anymore. It started about 10 years ago, she’s 89 now.

Yes, I'm 64. I generally eat smaller portions, though sometimes I forget and give myself the amount I used to eat.

Definitely it does I’m 50 and six years ago I used to eat loads more and bigger portions. I’d be starving when I was in my 20s and couldn’t wait to wolf down my meals. I think I’ve shrunk my stomach though as have been on a bit of a plan in the last year or two, to get rid of the belly. I eat one meal per day (little larger than a child’s portion), an oat shake at lunch and a bowl of granola at breakfast. Sometimes I have a few snacks but really, i can’t be arsed to find something to eat nowadays if it’s not my meal. I’d rather just stay peckish. All the pleasure has gone out of it as I don’t like feeling bloated.

I'm 39 and weigh 11.5 stone at 5'8 so I'm not ill looking or anything. I have to watch my weight. It's just weird. Maybe my metabolism is slowing. Maybe it's a hormone thing. I'm also noticing my hair has changed. Never sits as nice the way it used to even a year ago.

I don't think it's stomach shrinking it's different hormones maybe, change as we age.
It's very handy, to not need to eat & just wait until you can sit & enjoy your food instead.

Just been reading that covid and even covid jabs can cause loss of appetite.

Well, I'm not sure it happened to me in my 40's, but now, in my 70's, it certainly has happened.

Today, for example, I had half a cup of coffee, a small orange, half a litre of water, a M&S haddock and cheese fish cake, and a small quantity of veg.

that is all I will eat today, and I'm not in the least hungry.

on the other hand, I have an acquaintance who is in her 90's and she has a very healthy appetite.

So, depends, I suppose

Interesting! I'm in my mid-60s but I eat the same as I always did, however I have always had a small appetite.

Not yet over here…

I can't eat anything like what I used to, but I've never been able to eat a three-course meal. I'm full quite quickly but I prefer to eat little and often because my blood sugar seems more stable that way.

I've also noticed my sweet tooth is disappearing. I used to be able to eat a large bar of Fruit & Nut in one sitting, or a whole packet of biscuits (both grim I know), but now I can have two biscuits and that's fine. I really don't like overly sweet stuff. Cream cakes = all bets off though.

53 here, very active. My appetite is healthy but I have noticed if I eat an unusually large amount then I am very windy.