Is a decrease in body weight is not done voluntarily. In other words, you did not try to lose weight through diet or exercise.
View intentional weight loss.
Alternative Names
Weight Loss
Common Causes
There are many causes of unintentional weight loss, some of which appear in the list below:
* AIDS
* Cancer
* Depression
* Chronic diarrhea (lasting a long time)
* Drugs, including amphetamines, chemotherapeutic agents, laxative abuse, and thyroid medications
* Addiction
* Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia
* Hyperthyroidism
* Infection
* Loss of appetite
* Malnutrition
* Manipulative behavior (in children)
* Painful mouth ulcers, braces, or loss of teeth that prevent the person to eat normally
* Smoking
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.
Home Care
It must exercise restraint and maintain a balanced program of diet and exercise. When weight loss is caused by oral or dental problems, you should visit your dentist and where the source of weight loss is a disease, you should follow the therapy prescribed by your doctor to treat the underlying cause.
Call your doctor if
A Call your doctor if:
* A teenage son or daughter has an unrealistic image of herself (or) and seems to be dieting too much.
* He has lost more than 5% of normal body weight in 6 to 12 months or less and no explanation.
* There have been other symptoms with weight loss.
What to Expect at Your Office
The doctor will perform a physical exam and measure the weight of the person. You may be asked questions about medical history and symptoms, including:
* When did the weight loss?
* Did it occur suddenly or has been gradual?
* How much weight have you lost?
* Are you eating less?
* Are you eating different foods?
* Are you exercising more?
* Have you been sick (a)?
* Do you have dental problems or mouth sores?
* Do you have more stress or anxiety than usual?
* Have you vomited? Does the vomit?
* Do you have more energy lately?
* Fainting?
* Do you have uncontrollable hunger with palpitations, tremor and sweating?
* Has there been a change in vision?
* Has increased sensitivity to cold or heat?
* Have you had constipation or diarrhea?
* Do you have increased thirst or drinking?
* Are you urinating more than usual?
* Have you lost any hair?
* What medications / drugs are you taking?
or Diuretics?
or Laxatives?
or Alcohol?
Or drugs?
* Have severe depression?
* Are you pleased (a) or worried (a) with weight loss?
You can perform the following tests:
* Nutritional assessment
* Blood tests including chemistry profile
In cases of weight loss which is caused by anorexia nervosa or depression, they may recommend psychological counseling. For cases of weight loss caused by chronic disease, you may need a feeding tube in order to maintain the level of nutrition and to prevent edema, poor healing and muscle atrophy.
It may be necessary to see a dietitian for nutritional counseling.
Diet and Nutrition Consultation
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