Healthy body weight is one of many indications of physical and emotional wellness. When a person's weight drops without attempts at losing weight, a condition known as abnormal or unintentional weight loss, it may pose cause for alarm. While some causes of unintentional weight loss are remedied through lifestyle changes or changes in medications, others require intensive medical or psychological treatment. For best results, doctor's guidance is suggested when abnormal weight loss occurs.
Causes
Unintentional weight loss may develop for a vast number of reasons. According to the New York Times Health Guide, potential causes include AIDS, certain types of cancer, depression, chronic diarrhea, drug abuse, thyroid problems, infections, malnutrition, painful mouth sores that prevent normal eating, emotional stress and smoking. Drugs, such as amphetamines, chemotherapy medications and medications used to treat thyroid disorders may also trigger weight loss, often due to a suppressing effect the medications have on appetite.
Significance
Unintentional weight loss can play a significant role in a person's lifestyle and wellness. When unintentional weight loss causes a person's body weight to fall below healthy levels, numerous risks arise. According to an article by health journalist Meghan A.T.B. Reese, published in Today's Dietitian in January 2008, underweight individuals are prone to infections, decreased immune system strength, reduced muscle tissue, hair loss and hormone imbalances. When low body weight or weight loss continues, it may lead to nutrient deficiencies, increased risk for iron-deficient anemia and osteoporosis, and pregnancy complications in women. When weight loss signifies a disease, it can serve as a significant diagnostic tool and prompt a person to seek doctor's guidance and necessary treatment.
Treatment
Treatment for unintentional weight loss varies greatly, depending on the cause. For people with infections or disease, treatment for the underlying condition often helps remedy weight loss. People with depression may require psychotherapy and/or antidepressant medications. Stress causes may dissolve through counseling or relaxation techniques. Underlying infections may require antibiotics or other medical treatments.
According to the American Cancer Society, most people with cancer will experience unintentional weight loss at some point, as a symptom of cancer or in response to cancer treatments. When treatments, such as chemotherapy, negatively affect weight and appetite, nutritional supplementation or lifestyle remedies, such as consuming small meals or liquid meals, may prove helpful in supporting weight and wellness. When medications affect appetite or weight negatively, doctors may prescribe alternate medications or encourage dietary lifestyle changes that support healthy weight gain or maintenance.
Misconceptions
Unintentional weight loss may be viewed as a positive "perk," particularly if a person was overweight to begin with. However, Reese suggests that low body weight that may result from unintentional weight loss poses risks similar to obesity complications in magnitude. According to Reese, people often mistakenly overlook emotional causes of weight loss. In reality, loss of appetite and weight loss are common symptoms of emotional conditions, such as depression.
Suggestions
When weight loss appears unexpectedly, lifestyle changes and emotional stress should be examined, as shifts in dietary lifestyle and activity shifts may go unnoticed. When unintentional weight loss occurs without other apparent symptoms, people may hesitate to seek medical guidance. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests seeking medical attention if unintentional weight loss exceeds 5 percent of a person's normal body weight in six to 12 months or less, and if other symptoms coincide with weight loss. Once medical causes have been ruled out or treated, involuntary weight loss may be remedied through dietary counseling and consistent efforts toward maintaining a calorie and nutrient-sufficient diet.
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