Worried by unexplained weight loss? Read this blog to find out the most probably causes of sudden, unexplained weight loss. However, please make sure to visit a doctor if the condition is persistent!

Causes of Unexplained Weight Loss

Not all cases of weight loss are serious or risky. For example, a stressful life changing event may also lead to weight loss. However if you are facing unexplained weight loss, it may indicate any one of these underlying factors:

• Muscle loss or muscle atrophy

Loss of muscle often can explain unexpected weight loss. This condition occurs mainly if your muscles are not active for some time. Bedridden people, or people not involved in any kind of exercise, or those who are engaged in work desk jobs are more prone to developing muscle atrophy and related weight loss. 

• Hyperthyroidism

When your thyroid gland releases excessive thyroid hormone, it leads to the development of an overactive thyroid. Thyroid hormones regulate different body functions and also control metabolism. An overactive thyroid causes quick burnout of your calories despite having a good appetite.  As a result, your body weight gets affected due to extensive calorie drainage.

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

This condition involves attacking of your joint linings by your immune system. This leads to inflammation and accelerate your body’s metabolism, ending up in decreasing your overall weight.

• Type 1 diabetes

As insulin is made by pancreas in our body, the primary mechanism of diabetes is your immune system attacking your pancreatic cells. Without the secretion of insulin, glucose remains unused in our body. This results in a high blood glucose level and consequently burns your muscle and fat to meet the energy demand in your body. This causes weight loss.

• Depression

This is basically a mood disorder affecting the parts of your brain controlling appetite. As a result you will develop a poor appetite causing your weight loss. However, the symptoms often vary across individuals and some people may have an increased appetite due to depression.

• IBD or inflammatory bowel disease

IBD causes a chronic inflammation in your body putting it into a catabolic state. This suggests that your body uses energy constantly. Moreover, IBD also disrupts your satiety and hunger hormones leading to a reduced appetite.

• COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

COPD is a kind of progressive lung disease and also includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD results in weight loss in advanced stages as laboured breathing causes huge calorie burnout.

• Endocarditis

Germs, usually bacteria, cause inflammation of your endocardium, the inner lining of your heart. These germs enter the bloodstream and gradually accumulate in your heart. Fever and poor appetite are common symptoms of this condition, endocarditis. This rise in body temperature triggers your metabolism rate, leading to increased burning of your fat and calories and decreased body weight.

• Tuberculosis (TB)

It is a contagious condition affecting your lungs. Although a reduced appetite and resultant weight loss are some common symptoms of TB, the actual reason is not known.

• Cancer

Cancer refers to the quick division and spreading of abnormal cells throughout your body. An unexplained weight loss is often a primary sign of cancer development. As cancer triggers inflammation, it may lead to muscle wasting and disruption of hormones regulating your appetite. Besides, a growing tumour may also increase the rate of your energy burnout at rest.

• Addison’s disease

In this condition, the immune system attacks your adrenal glands, hindering the sufficient production of aldosterone and cortisol. From appetite to metabolism, cortisol looks after different functions. As a result of low cortisol, your poor appetite may enhance your weight loss.

• HIV

This virus attacks your T cells (immune cells) and makes it difficult for your body to fight infections. An untreated HIV may lead to AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Decreased hunger and nutritional deficiencies are common aspects of HIV, and results in weight loss.

• Congestive heart failure

When your heart fails to fill up with sufficient blood or fails to pump blood with sufficient force, it is a condition of congestive heart failure. As your digestive system cannot get adequate blood, it leads to a poor appetite and nausea as a result. You may face breathing complications while eating, or may experience a high metabolic rate due to inflammation of your heart tissue. 

What are risk factors of sudden weight loss?

You may also find out other risks and possible causes of sudden weight loss. For example,

• In older adults: Research shows that people over 65 years are usually more prone to unexplained weight loss. Older adults are again highly exposed to unexplained weight loss due to excellent distribution of your body fats and smoking habits.
• In children and adolescents: Poverty is often a major risk factor to hindering the proper weight gain of children as per age and height. This is because poverty does not allow the child to get enough food at his developing stage. A poor body weight may prevail in new mothers who are breastfeeding. On the other hand, lack of proper care of newborn babies may cause their weight loss at the developing stage. Again, allergic reactions and eating disorders can be the underlying causes of unexplained weight loss in both adolescents and children.

Weight Loss: Males vs. Females

Females are several times more likely to threats of pancreatic cancer, endocarditic, COPD, lung cancer, RA or hyperthyroidism than males.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of an unexplained weight loss starts with a thorough evaluation of your body to detect the root cause, study your medical history and ongoing symptoms. Doctors generally conduct dental examinations; swallow tests and psychological assessment to check the actual cause of your sudden weight loss.

Treatment

The underlying cause of your condition decides the specific treatment for your sudden weight loss. For this the doctor performs a comprehensive medical examination to check your dietary habits and other factors. 

Conclusion

Sudden weight loss without any conscious effort may not be matter of concern, but may also indicate some medical condition. Book a private GP appointment at our clinic to discover your possible causes of sudden weight loss.