Unintentional weight loss has many different causes. It might be caused by a stressful event like a divorce, losing a job, or the death of a loved one. It can also be caused by malnutrition, a health condition or a combination of things.
You may see more hair thinning with your weight loss. This temporary form of hair loss is known as telogen effluvium. Luckily, hair loss from weight loss is usually temporary and usually will regrow once you resume eating an adequate amount of protein.
There are a wide range of conditions that can bring on hair loss, with some of the most common being pregnancy, thyroid disorders, and anemia. Others include autoimmune diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, Rogers says.
According to the American Cancer Society, significant weight loss happens most often with cancers that affect the stomach, pancreas, esophagus and lung.
Unexplained weight loss is a noticeable drop in body weight that occurs even if the person is not trying to lose weight. Unexplained weight loss can be a symptom of a serious illness, including cancer or diabetes. Treatment involves identifying the underlying cause of the weight loss.
But many health care providers agree that a medical evaluation is called for if you lose more than 5% of your weight in 6 to 12 months, especially if you're an older adult. For example, a 5% weight loss in someone who is 160 pounds (72 kilograms) is 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms).
Patients may not notice that they have lost weight unless it is brought to their attention by their doctors, friends or family members. If you find yourself losing weight without any effort, you should be very concerned and should immediately consult your doctor at FrontLine ER.
Cachexia. Some people may lose weight despite eating normally. This is called cachexia. With cachexia, your body may not be absorbing all the fat, protein and carbohydrate from the food you eat.
Your body weight can regularly fluctuate. But the persistent, unintentional loss of more than 5 per cent of your weight over 6 to 12 months is usually a cause for concern. Losing this much weight can be a sign of malnutrition. This is when a person's diet doesn't contain the right amount of nutrients.
Although there are more than 200 different cancer types and various potential warning signs for each – there is one symptom that is shared by many different types. Sudden and unexplained weight loss may be a warning sign of cancer, and is often one of the very first signs of the disease.
Weight loss is common among people with cancer. It may be the first visible sign of the disease. In fact, 40% of people say they had unexplained weight loss when they were first diagnosed with cancer. Weight loss associated with cancer may be different than other types of weight loss.
Both acute and chronic pancreatitis can cause your pancreas to produce fewer of the enzymes that are needed to break down and process nutrients from the food you eat. This can lead to malnutrition, diarrhea and weight loss, even though you may be eating the same foods or the same amount of food.
Extreme weight-loss is defined as a loss of more than 1kg a week for a sustained period. Under such circumstances, your body is unlikely to be able to keep up and noticeable symptoms are bound to appear. Some may seem harmless on the surface, like minor hair-loss or feeling cold more frequently.
Other causes of weight loss include, but are not limited to, cancer, viral infection (such as CMV or HIV), gastroenteritis, parasite infection, depression, bowel diseases, and overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). The loss of weight and lack of nutrition associated with a chronic illness is referred to as cachexia.
Serious infections, for example, TB and HIV, and inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, also raise your metabolic rate and induce weight loss. Your doctor can assess your symptoms and check your blood for markers of infection and inflammation to rule out infective or inflammatory causes of weight loss.
The blood tests for weight loss include: Lipid panel: A lipid panel measures the amount of good & bad cholesterols, freely floating fat droplets or triglycerides, and the total amount of cholesterol in the blood. High levels of bad cholesterol are associated with obesity and heart disease.
POTENTIAL NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF RAPID WEIGHT LOSS STRATEGIES
One potentially serious side effect is severe dehydration. Research indicates that even a 2% drop in water weight can lead to increased mental fatigue, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, and apathy (10,19,38).
Losing weight too quickly can damage your metabolism
If you lose more than about 8 pounds in a month, not only will you likely not be able to keep it off, but it also means you probably engaged in unhealthy behaviors to get there.