What causes weight loss?
Weight loss as a symptom can be caused by diseases affecting almost any part of the body, including ongoing infections, AIDS, cancers, depression, painful mouth sores, missing teeth, chronic liver disease, kidney disease, respiratory disease, hypothyroidism, heart disease, and chronic diarrhea or other digestive disorders. Weight loss can also be caused by loss of appetite due to dementia or by certain eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
Some drugs can cause abnormal weight loss as well. Rapid or persistent weight loss is very dangerous, can cause severe damage to multiple systems, and should always be investigated as soon as possible.
Gastrointestinal causes of weight loss
Weight loss may be caused by digestive or gastrointestinal system disorders including:
- Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract
- Celiac disease (severe sensitivity to gluten from wheat and other grains that causes intestinal damage)
- Chronic diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal infection
- Inflammatory bowel disease (includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
- Malabsorption syndrome
- Peptic ulcer
Endocrinologic causes of weight loss
Weight loss can also be caused by endocrine or hormonal disorders including:
- Addison’s disease (disease characterized by underactive adrenal glands)
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Other causes of weight loss
Weight loss may also be caused by other conditions including:
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Certain medications
- Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia
- Kidney disease
Questions for diagnosing the cause of weight loss
To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to your weight loss including:
- How much weight have you lost? Over what period of time?
- Have you had any vomiting, diarrhea, or other digestive symptoms?
- Have you been depressed or anxious about anything?
- Do you have any other symptoms?
- What medications are you taking?
- Do you use any street drugs, drink alcohol, or smoke?
What are the potential complications of weight loss?
Because weight loss can be due to serious diseases, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:
- Bone loss or weakening
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Organ failure
- Spread of cancer
- Spread of infection
Weight loss - unintentional. Medline Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003107.htm. Accessed June 1, 2011.
Appetite - decreased. Medline Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003121.htm. Accessed June 1, 2011.
What is weight loss?
Weight loss as a symptom is any loss of weight that you cannot explain, or that you did not plan or work for through increased diet control and exercise. Weight loss as a symptom can be caused by diseases affecting almost any part of the body, including ongoing infections, AIDS, cancers, depression, painful mouth sores, missing teeth, chronic liver disease, kidney disease, respiratory disease, thyroid disease, heart disease, and chronic diarrhea or other digestive disorders. It can also be caused by loss of appetite due to dementia and by certain eating disorders such as... Read more about weight lossintroduction