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Aug 17, 2022 · Unexplained weight loss has many causes, medical and nonmedical. Often, a combination of things results in a general decline in your health and a related weight loss. Most often, medical disorders that cause weight loss include other symptoms.
- Overview
- What diseases cause unexplained weight loss?
- Other risk factors
- Diagnosing unexplained weight loss
- Treatment of unexplained weight loss
- Frequently asked questions
- Takeaway
Losing weight without trying may indicate an underlying condition. Conditions that cause unexplained weight loss include overactive thyroid, inflammatory bowel disease, and depression.
A good rule of thumb is to see your doctor if you’ve lost a significant amount — more than 5% of your weight — within 6 to 12 months.
Not all weight loss is serious. It can happen after a life changing or stressful event. However, unexplained or unintentional weight loss may indicate one of these medical conditions:
•Muscle loss (muscle atrophy): This can lead to unexpected weight loss from loss of muscle, most commonly if you don’t use your muscles for a while. It’s most common in people who don’t exercise, work desk jobs, or are bedridden.
•Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid develops when your thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. These hormones control many functions in the body, including metabolism. If your thyroid is overactive, you’ll quickly burn calories even if you have a good appetite.
•Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): This causes your immune system to attack the lining of your joints, leading to inflammation that can speed up metabolism and reduce your overall weight.
•Type 1 diabetes: Your immune system attacks cells in your pancreas that make insulin. Without insulin, your body can’t use glucose for energy. This causes high blood glucose and causes your body to burn fat and muscle for energy.
•Depression: This mood disorder affects the same brain parts that control appetite. This can lead to poor appetite and, eventually, weight loss. In some people, depression may increase appetite. The symptoms vary from person to person.
In older adults
Research shows that unexplained weight loss occurs in 15–20% of people ages 65 and above. Smoking and more excellent body fat distribution also increase the chance of unexplained weight loss in older adults.
In children and adolescents
The following risk factors increase the chance of unexplained or unintentional weight loss in children: •Poverty: In the U.S., living in poverty is the biggest risk factor for failure to thrive, which is a child below the standard height and weight values for their age. •Challenges with breastfeeding to chestfeeding: It’s common to have difficulty with nursing. Even if you’re using formula, as a new parent, you may need time to learn how to prepare it correctly for your baby. It’s common to make mistakes in the beginning. That said, watch your baby’s weight, consult your pediatrician, and ask for help when needed. Learn what to do if your baby won’t nurse and how to increase your baby’s weight. •Allergies: A baby can also develop an allergy to a particular formula, which may take time to identify. •Eating disorders: The prevalence of eating disorders in teens is about 2.7%, with females having a higher chance of developing it than males. It’s common for teens to hide their disorder, but one sign can be unexplained weight loss. It doesn’t necessarily mean they have an eating disorder, but it’s a sign they may need an evaluation. Learn about the signs of an eating disorder in teens.
[the terms “male” and “female”]
In this article, we use “male and female” to refer to someone’s sex as determined by their chromosomes and “men and women” when referring to their gender (unless quoting from sources using nonspecific language). Was this helpful?
Since there are many potential causes of unexplained weight loss, the diagnosis will probably start with a thorough evaluation. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and history of known medical conditions or medications.
In a 2017 study, researchers asked subjects to submit various blood test samples and do a chest x-ray.
Older adult patients with no other symptoms were asked to undergo a dental exam, a barium swallow test, and a psychological assessment for depression.
In cases where the doctors couldn’t find an apparent cause, they continued to follow the patients.
The specific treatment for unexplained weight loss will depend on the underlying cause. Research also shows that a quarter of people with unexplained weight loss don’t get a diagnosis even after a comprehensive medical exam.
In cases where the weight loss is severe enough that the doctor suspects nutritional deficiency, they may ask you to adjust your diet or consume nutritional supplements even if an exact cause hasn’t yet been established.
What is the most common cause of unexplained weight loss?
According to a 2017 study of 2677 patients with unexplained weight loss in a Barcelona hospital, 33% of the subjects were diagnosed with some type of cancer, 37% had noncancerous underlying causes, and 16% were diagnosed with a mood disorder. In patients over 65, oral disorders were the second biggest cause after cancer.
Which cancer causes weight loss?
In the same 2017 study, the majority of those diagnosed with cancer were found to have pancreatic cancer and lymphoma. After that, kidney, bladder, and ureteral cancers were most common.
When should I be worried about unexplained weight loss?
It’s common for your body weight to fluctuate. However, something else might be happening if you are losing weight without changing your habits. If you experience a 5% weight loss in 6 to 12 months or notice any of the above symptoms, visit your doctor.
If you’ve been losing weight without conscious effort, it isn’t necessarily something to worry about but could be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
See your doctor if your weight loss seems significant, especially if you have additional symptoms.
- Unexplained weight loss. Losing weight without trying might sound like a dream come true, but in reality it can signal a health problem. If you don't have a body mass index of 30 or higher (obesity) and you've lost more than 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms), or more than 5 percent of your body weight, during the past six to 12 months consult your doctor.
- Persistent or high fever. A fever isn't necessarily a cause for alarm. Fever seems to play a key role in fighting infection. Persistent fever can signal a hidden infection, which could be anything from a urinary tract infection to tuberculosis.
- Shortness of breath. Shortness of breath could signal an underlying health problem. Very strenuous exercise, extreme temperatures, massive obesity and high altitude all can cause shortness of breath.
- Unexplained changes in bowel habits. What's considered normal for bowel movements varies widely. Consult your doctor if you notice unusual or unexplained changes in what's normal for you, such as
- Poor nutrition. As many as 50 percent of hospital patients worldwide aren’t adequately nourished or are at risk of malnutrition, according to a study in Medical Science Monitor.
- Muscle loss (sarcopenia) Muscle loss tends to begin around age 40 and progresses more rapidly after the age of 75, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation.
- Cancer. Unexplained weight loss is one of 15 symptoms of cancer that are too often ignored. There are several types of cancer, such as leukemia, lung, pancreatic, breast, and colon, that are known to lead to unexplained weight loss,” says Eyal Meiri, MD, Interim Chief of Medical Oncology at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Atlanta.
- Hyperthyroidism. Unexplained weight loss could be a sign of a thyroid disease such as Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disease that causes the thyroid gland to produce excessive amounts of the thyroid hormone.
Aug 5, 2024 · Unexplained weight loss is a red flag because it’s a common symptom of many serious illnesses. These diseases often get worse (progress) in stages. Some diseases — like diabetes or Addison’s disease — can progress quickly. Others — like cancer — may progress more slowly.
Jun 17, 2024 · Unexplained weight loss can be the initial symptom of a serious health issue, and if dismissed or attributed to the wrong cause, the health issue can go untreated.
People also ask
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Mar 30, 2023 · Unexplained weight loss occurs when people lose weight without changing their diet or exercise routine. Possible causes include thyroid problems, depression, inflammatory bowel...
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