Unexplained Weight Loss: Causes & Treatment
Unexplained weight loss or weight loss without trying - especially if it is significant or persistent - can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. When unexplained weight loss becomes a medical problem is not exact. But many doctors agree that a medical evaluation is necessary if you lose more than 5% of your weight in six months to a year, especially if you are an elderly person.
Unexplained weight loss is a noticeable decrease in body weight that occurs even if the person is not trying to lose weight. Weight loss is not because of changes in diet, exercise, or lifestyle. Weight loss of five percent of body weight in a period of 6 to 12 months is considered "unexplained." Unintentional weight loss can be extremely distressing, especially when you Lose a relatively massive amount and do not know why.
Causes of Unexplained Weight Loss
Unintentional weight reduction is often the result of an underlying persistent clinical condition. However, short-term illnesses like the flu or the common cold can also cause weight loss due to abdominal discomfort.
- An overactive or underactive thyroid gland. The thyroid gland helps regulate body temperature and control your heart rate and metabolism (the process that converts the food you eat into energy).
- Cancer
- Heart failure
- Addison's disease, a condition in which the adrenal glands, which are found in the upper part of the kidneys, do not make enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone.
- Parkinson's disease
- AIDS
- Gastrointestinal problems, such as a peptic ulcer or ulcerative colitis.
- Dental problems
- Depression or anxiety
- Side effects of prescription drugs
- Celiac disease (gluten allergy)
- Diabetes
- A parasitic infection
- Drug abuse
- Undiagnosed eating disorders
- Swelling of the pancreas
- Alcohol abuse
- Dysphagia (trouble swallowing)
- Dementia
- Muscle loss or atrophy can lead to unexpected weight loss. The main symptom is muscle weakness. One of its limbs may appear even smaller than the other.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack the lining of your joints, causing inflammation. Chronic infection can accelerate metabolism and decrease overall weight.
- Unexpected weight loss can be a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a term that encompasses many persistent inflammatory problems of the digestive tract. The most common kinds are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Secure your health with a second opinion. Make informed decisions and book your appointment today!
Get A Second OpinionReasons for Unexplained Weight Loss
Several Unexplained Weight Loss Reasons can be explored, including:
- Metabolic Disorders : Conditions that alter metabolism can lead to weight loss.
- Infections : Chronic infections or diseases can cause unintended weight loss.
- Malabsorption : Issues with absorbing nutrients from food can result in weight loss.
Unexplained Weight Loss in Women vs Men
Anyone can experience unexplained weight loss, regardless of gender. However, whether a person is male or female can increase the risk of certain conditions that can cause this symptom. Adult women who are between the ages of 25 and 29 or older than 35 have a significantly higher risk of Crohn's disease than men. After age 45, men have a substantially higher risk of ulcerative colitis than women.
Men have a higher rate of the following compared to women:
- Endocarditis
- Pancreatic cancer
- Lung cancer
Diagnosis for Unexplained Weight Loss
If you've got unintentional weight loss, your physician will first take a cautious history, search for chance factors for plenty of clinical conditions, after which carry out a physical exam. Depending on the findings, your doctor may recommend more tests and radiological studies to try to track your weight loss. Consider when the weight loss started. Also, take note of any other symptoms you have experienced at the time of weight loss. This will give your doctor useful information that can help him make a diagnosis.
Tests
Blood tests your doctor orders will depend on many factors, including any symptoms you have. Commonly performed tests include:
- Complete blood count (CBC): A complete blood count can reveal evidence of infections, anemia (which can be caused by many conditions that result in unintended weight loss), and more.
- Thyroid panel
- Liver function tests
- Kidney function tests
- Blood sugar (glucose)
- Urinalysis
- Inflammation tests: Non-specific tests may include a sedimentation rate and/or C-reactive protein
- Electrolytes: Sodium, potassium, and calcium can give clues to an underlying problem.
Procedures
Endoscopy procedures, such as upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or colonoscopy, can look for evidence of gastrointestinal causes of weight loss. An echocardiogram can be thought of as an ultrasound of the heart and helps diagnose many conditions, including infections present in the heart valves (infective endocarditis).
Imaging Studies
Imaging tests that may be helpful include:
- Chest X-ray (it is important to note that a plain chest X-ray can miss conditions such as lung cancer)
- Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest or abdomen
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Positron emission tomography (PET) can look for evidence of cancer metastasis.
Ready to take control of your health journey? Book your appointment now and start your path towards wellness today!
Book an AppointmentUnexplained Weight Loss Treatment
Effective Unexplained Weight Loss Treatment depends on diagnosing the underlying cause. Treatment options may include:
- Medical Interventions: Treating the underlying condition with medication or surgery as prescribed by a healthcare professional.
- Nutritional Support: Addressing nutrient deficiencies through dietary adjustments or supplements.
- Lifestyle Changes: Incorporating changes in diet, exercise, and stress management to support overall health.
When to See a Doctor?
If you're dropping weight without trying, it's far more important to make an appointment with your doctor, even in case you assume there's a reason for your weight reduction. It is important to be your advocate and continue to ask the "why" question if you don't think you have an adequate explanation.
While body weight can fluctuate naturally, a person should contact a doctor if they lose over 5% of their initial body weight in 6 to 12 months without making any changes to their exercise routine or diet.
A doctor can diagnose the underlying cause of unexplained weight loss by conducting a physical exam and reviewing a person's medical history.
They may also use blood tests, including hormone panels or imaging studies, to rule out specific medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, RA, or cancer.
Many of the conditions that can lead to unintentional weight loss are difficult to diagnose in the early stages, and sometimes multiple blood tests or imaging studies are needed to define the cause.
