People may lose weight without trying for several reasons. These can include relatively harmless factors like a high metabolism, poor eating habits, or a busy schedule. However, there are times when the reason for unintentional weight loss is more serious and needs to be addressed.
10 Possible Causes Of Unintentional Weight Loss
1. Depression
Depression and other mood disorders can affect your appetite. Though it might not feel like it, you won’t eat as much as your body needs to maintain your weight. Other symptoms to look out for include fatigue, loss of interest in your hobbies, feelings of hopelessness, and an inability to concentrate.
2. Digestive Disorders
If you’re eating well but aren’t seeing the results, the problem could be your digestive system. Disorders like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease can result in weight loss because you’re not absorbing the nutrients you need. Some other symptoms you might notice are nausea, chronic fatigue, persistent diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
3. Heart Failure
One consequence of heart failure is unexplained weight loss. Since the heart can’t supply the digestive system with sufficient blood, it won’t work efficiently. Some of the symptoms of heart failure are chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, a persistently fast heartbeat, and a constant cough.
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4. Cancer
Different types of cancer will have varying symptoms, however, a growing tumor often increases how quickly you burn energy. That typically results in weight loss. A few of the common symptoms of cancer are unexplained pain, persistent fever, and fatigue.
5. Hyperthyroidism
Your thyroid gland is responsible for regulating multiple systems, including your metabolism. A hyperactive gland can mean that your body is burning more calories than you’re consuming. Other symptoms are tremors, heart palpitations, anxiety, and more frequent bowel movements.
6. Parkinson’s Disease
This degenerative brain disorder often causes digestive issues that lead to weight loss. A few of the other symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease are stiff muscles, tremors, and an imbalance while walking.
7. Pancreatitis
While the symptoms of acute pancreatitis happen quickly, the chronic form of the illness takes its time. One of the issues you’ll notice is unexplained weight loss. Some of the other symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
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8. Type1 Diabetes
With type 1 diabetes, your body can’t process glucose properly. This can result in unintentional weight loss. If you have diabetes, you may experience blurry vision, excessive thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue.
9. Rheumatoid Arthritis
In rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system attacks healthy joints and tissue. Though the resulting pain is often felt in your joints, the disease can also cause overall inflammation that increases your metabolism. Some of the other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are stiff joints, fever, fatigue, and weakness.
10. Mineral Imbalances
Typically, you’ll need a combination of nutrients to remain healthy. In fact, your diet needs certain minerals like calcium and sodium in specific quantities to function. When there’s an imbalance, weight loss is one of the common symptoms. Other issues you might see include nausea, heart palpitations, trouble concentrating, and restlessness.
It’s important to note that this is far from an exhaustive list. There are other conditions that aren't listed here so not having other recognizable symptoms doesn’t mean that you should ignore your weight loss.
What To Do About It
Once you notice unexplained weight loss, it can help to make changes to your routine. You can adjust your eating habits, modify your exercise routine, or make a conscious decision to maintain your current weight. However, if you continue to lose weight or notice that you’ve lost 10 pounds or more, you need to see your doctor.
You should never ignore unintentional weight loss. Even if an underlying condition isn’t to blame, it’s a sign that you need to change something. While it can help to make a few changes on your own, it’s best to see your doctor as soon as possible.
