Tumor Anorexia: A Learned Food Aversion?

Abstract

Anorexia can occur when a specific diet is associated with a developing illness. The studies reported here show that the decline in food intake which accompanies tumor growth is accompanied by the development of aversions to the specific diet consumed during tumor growth. An immediate elevation in food consumption occurred when a novel diet was introduced. Therefore, the development of learned aversions to the specific diet eaten during tumor growth may be a causal factor in the development of tumor anorexia.