Does Being Anemic Affect Your Eating Habits?

November 13, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the World Health Organization, anemia affects over 24% of the global population, and a key symptom that many patients experience is a change in their relationship with food. This is because having a lower-than-normal red blood cell count, as is the case when being anemic, can significantly affect your eating habits in multiple and surprising ways.

Quick Summary

Anemia can cause a range of eating changes, from appetite loss and altered taste perception to intense cravings for non-food items, a condition known as pica. These issues stem from a lack of oxygen reaching tissues, nutrient deficiencies, and related neurochemical shifts. Effective management involves addressing the underlying anemia and making strategic dietary changes.

Key Points

Appetite loss: Anemia can cause reduced appetite, especially in children and individuals with severe fatigue.
Altered taste and smell: Low iron levels can lead to a diminished sense of taste and even strange smell cravings.
Pica: This is the compulsion to eat non-food items like ice, dirt, or paper, and it is strongly linked to iron deficiency.
Poor nutrient absorption: Anemia is often caused by poor absorption, which can be further hindered by consuming inhibitors like coffee, tea, and calcium with iron-rich foods.
Improved eating with treatment: Many eating habit changes associated with anemia resolve once the underlying deficiency is treated with supplements and a modified diet.

How Anemia Can Change Your Appetite

One of the most noticeable impacts of anemia on eating is a change in appetite. While the exact reason can differ based on the type and severity of the anemia, several factors are at play.

Appetite Suppression and Fatigue

Anemia often leads to severe fatigue and weakness because your body's tissues and muscles aren't receiving enough oxygen. The body may prioritize conserving energy, which can lead to a reduced overall appetite and calorie intake. This is especially true for those with severe cases, who may feel too tired to prepare or eat a full meal. In children, a lack of appetite is a common symptom of iron deficiency anemia. Some research also suggests that iron deficiency may alter levels of the hormone ghrelin, which helps regulate hunger, further contributing to a low appetite.

Loss of Taste Perception

A lack of healthy red blood cells, which is the hallmark of anemia, can affect your taste buds. This can manifest as a reduced or altered sense of taste, making food seem bland or unappealing. The loss of taste perception can lead to a lack of interest in food, and in more severe cases, cause a condition called atrophic glossitis, where the papillae on the tongue atrophy and create a smooth, shiny, and sometimes painful tongue.

Pica: The Craving for Non-Food Items

One of the most unusual and concerning eating changes associated with anemia is pica, which is the compulsive craving and ingestion of non-food items. Pica is strongly linked to iron deficiency anemia and often resolves when the deficiency is treated. The reasons behind pica are still being studied, but it is a well-documented symptom. Common items craved include:

Ice (pagophagia)
Dirt or clay (geophagia)
Starch or uncooked pasta (amylophagia)
Chalk or paper
Raw rice
Laundry detergent or rubber

Making Dietary Changes to Manage Anemia's Effects

Modifying your diet is crucial for treating anemia and addressing the related eating issues. Here are some key strategies to consider:

Focus on iron-rich foods: The most effective way to address iron deficiency anemia is to increase your intake of iron. Heme iron, found in animal products, is more easily absorbed than non-heme iron from plant sources.
Pair iron with vitamin C: Vitamin C can significantly enhance the absorption of non-heme iron. For example, have a glass of orange juice with an iron-fortified cereal.
Avoid iron absorption blockers: Certain substances can interfere with iron absorption. It's best to consume these separately from your iron-rich meals and supplements. These inhibitors include calcium, tannins found in coffee and tea, and oxalates in some leafy greens.
Cook with cast-iron cookware: This simple method can add small amounts of iron to your food, particularly when cooking acidic dishes.

Comparison of Eating Habits: Anemic vs. Healthy Individual


Eating Habit	Anemic Individual	Healthy Individual
Appetite	Often suppressed or lacking due to fatigue and other symptoms.	Typically stable, driven by normal hunger cues and energy needs.
Taste	Altered or diminished, potentially leading to a lack of enjoyment in food.	Functional and vibrant, allowing for full enjoyment of flavors.
Cravings	May experience unusual cravings for non-food items (pica), like ice or dirt.	Cravings are usually food-related and not a sign of a deficiency.
Energy for Eating	Low energy can make preparing and consuming meals feel like a chore.	Has sufficient energy for meal preparation and enjoyment.
Dietary Focus	Needs to focus on maximizing iron absorption by pairing foods correctly.	Can enjoy a balanced diet without special consideration for iron absorption.
Absorption Inhibitors	Must be mindful of foods and drinks that block iron absorption, such as coffee and calcium.	Consumption of these items does not significantly impact iron status.

Conclusion

In conclusion, being anemic absolutely affects your eating, manifesting in a variety of physiological and psychological changes. From a general loss of appetite and altered taste perception to the specific, sometimes dangerous, cravings of pica, the condition significantly impacts a person's relationship with food. The good news is that these eating habit changes are often reversible with proper medical intervention and dietary management. Treating the underlying cause of the anemia—most commonly iron deficiency—is the key to restoring normal appetite and eliminating cravings for non-nutritive items. For those experiencing these issues, consulting a healthcare professional for a diagnosis and treatment plan is the most effective path forward. Correcting nutritional deficiencies, adjusting dietary habits to optimize nutrient absorption, and in some cases, using supplements or other treatments, can lead to a return to healthy and enjoyable eating patterns.

For more in-depth information on managing iron deficiency anemia with dietary changes, you can read more here: Foods and meal plans for iron deficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, anemia, particularly iron-deficiency anemia, can cause a loss of appetite. Fatigue and weakness can reduce the desire to eat, and in some cases, low iron levels may alter hormones that regulate hunger.

Pica is a condition defined by the compulsive craving for and consumption of non-food items, such as ice, dirt, or clay. It is strongly associated with iron-deficiency anemia, and the craving often disappears once the iron deficiency is treated.

Yes, anemia can cause an altered sense of taste, sometimes resulting in food tasting bland or less flavorful. In more severe cases, it can lead to atrophic glossitis, which is the inflammation and smoothing of the tongue's surface, impacting taste buds.

Yes, you can, but it is best to avoid consuming them at the same time as iron-rich meals or supplements. Items like coffee, tea, and calcium-rich dairy can inhibit iron absorption, so timing their intake separately is recommended.

To improve iron absorption, you should combine iron-rich foods with sources of vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, peppers, or broccoli. Cooking with a cast-iron skillet can also help increase the iron content in your food.

While fatigue is a major contributor to a loss of appetite in anemic individuals, it is not the only reason. Altered taste perception, hormonal changes, and the direct physiological effects of nutrient deficiencies all play a role in influencing eating habits.

In most cases, yes. The craving for non-food items, or pica, is closely linked to the deficiency itself, and clinical studies have shown that these cravings often resolve once the underlying anemia is corrected with iron supplementation.