Unintentional weight loss
Unintentional weight loss is a significant decline in body weight even when a person is not attempting to lose weight. Diet, exercise, or lifestyle modifications do not come under unintentional weight loss. Weight loss of 10 or more kilograms, or 5% of body weight, during 6 to 12 months is regarded as “unexplained.”
Grounds for unintentional weight loss
Conditions ranging from mild to very serious can cause unexplained weight loss.
Physical or psychological factors that contribute to the problem include:
- A thyroid gland.
- Cancer.
- Anxiety or depression.
- Consequences of taking pharmaceutical drugs.
- Crohn’s disease (allergy to gluten).
- Diabetes.
- Presence of a parasite.
- Drugs misuse.
- Untreated eating disorders.
When to consult a doctor?
You should seek a doctor if you have dropped more than 10% of your body weight or 10 pounds without attempting it in the past six to twelve months.
How is unintentional weight loss treated?
Finding the underlying cause of unexplained weight loss is the first step in treatment. A doctor might suggest a wait-and-see strategy. Depending on the cause, unintended weight loss may require different treatments, and The doctor might advise you on what you can do to help, such as suggestions for coping with stress Or medical care for any issue causing you to lose weight.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022