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why do we lose our appetite when we see/hear something unpleasant?

Mark Sterling
Mark Sterling
Research Editor · Jan 21, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

It's an evolutionary thing. What if every time you saw a piece of poop, it made you hungry? You would be much more likely to eat poop.

72
Words

1 min
Read Time

#201
of 500 in Human Body

+4%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

It's an evolutionary thing. What if every time you saw a piece of poop, it made you hungry? You would be much more likely to eat poop. And people who eat poop tend to get diseases and die. So we're programmed to be disgusted by it. It's the same reason why people like unhealthy food. We're biologically programmed to go for the more calorically dense food because it would keep us alive.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Poop, it's, people

This explanation focuses on poop, it's, people and spans 72 words across 7 sentences. The depth is typical for Human Body questions (category average: 69 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “It's an evolutionary thing.” It then elaborates by explaining the root cause, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 7 connected points.

How This Compares in Human Body

Ranked #201 of 500 Human Body questions by answer depth (top 41%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why we lose our appetite when we see/hear something unpleasant?

It's an evolutionary thing. What if every time you saw a piece of poop, it made you hungry? You would be much more likely to eat poop. And people who eat poop tend to get diseases and die. So we're programmed to be disgusted by it. It's the same…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Human Body questions?

This is an above-average answer at 72 words, ranked #201 of 500 Human Body questions by depth. The key concepts covered are poop, it's, people.

What approach does this answer take to explain we lose our appetite when we see/hear something unpleasant?

The explanation uses root cause analysis across 72 words. It is categorized under Human Body and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.