Unexplained Weight Loss

A lot of people become extremely happy when they lose weight without trying, but unexplained weight loss is actually a concerning symptom that might indicate serious health conditions.

Unexplained weight loss

Unexplained weight loss means that the person loses more than 5% of their body weight, or about 4.5 kg (10 pounds), over 6-12 months unintentionally, which means that they didn’t do anything to lose this weight.

In fact, involuntary weight loss can be a worrying symptom because, in most cases, it occurs due to serious health conditions.

Causes of unexplained weight loss

Unexpected weight loss happens when there is a condition that either makes the patient lose their appetite, prevents the body from absorbing all the calories, or increases the burning of the calories. They include:

• Eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.
• Health conditions, like diabetes, Addison’s disease, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, hyperthyroidism, peptic ulcer disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart failure, intestinal parasites, pancreatitis, AIDS, cancers, and dental health problems.
• Mental health conditions, like depression, anxiety, and dementia,
• Certain medications and substance use disorder (drug addiction).

Diagnosis of unexplained weight loss

• Blood and urine tests.
• Imaging tests.

Treatment of unexplained weight loss

• Treating unintentional weight loss depends on the cause.
• To reduce the risk of unexplained weight loss, take good care of your health and don’t skip annual physical exams.