With obesity on the rise in the United States, there is a renewed emphasis on losing weight to remain healthy. Weight loss does not always signal good health, however. While dropping a few pounds may not concern many people, if there is no underlying explanation or the weight loss is consistent, it can signal the start of a serious medical condition.
Medical Conditions
A number of diseases may cause a sudden and unexplained weight loss. Cancer commonly causes a drop in weight and is sometimes the symptom that spurs a person to seek a physician's advice. Several gastrointestinal diseases do not allow the body to properly absorb nutrients or cause a decrease in appetite or nausea, resulting in the shedding of pounds. These diseases include Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease.
Endocrine disorders such as diabetes, hypercalcemia, hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency impact the hormones that regulate various body functions and are often the culprits behind unexpected weight loss. Several other medical conditions may cause a drop in weight, either as a primary or secondary symptom, including AIDS, severe infections, gallstones, cirrhosis, tuberculosis, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
Mental Health Disorders
Some psychiatric disorders may be responsible for sudden or unexplained weight loss. Anorexia and bulimia are conditions that affect a person's self-esteem and body image. These individuals do not believe they are thin enough and are compelled to lose weight. Anorexia is a refusal to take in enough food, resulting in malnourishment and starvation. Bulimia is a condition that involves purging after eating.
Depression is a disorder characterized by feelings of intense sadness, often leading to isolation and the inability to participate in normal activities. According to the The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, there are four types of depression, and only two may have an impact on weight: melancholic depression, which sometimes results in the patient cutting back on food and losing weight, and atypical depression, which often leads to weight gain.
Lifestyle Changes
Even simple lifestyle changes can cause an unexpected weight loss. An increase in physical activity or exercise without a corresponding increase in calorie intake is a common cause of weight loss. Hectic schedules resulting in skipped meals, mood swings causing a loss of appetite, or simple changes in daily routines are all capable of causing temporary and unexpected weight loss. Life events and changes often result in severe anxiety and stress, such as the death of a loved one, a change in job or move to a new home. This type of stress can lead to a decreased appetite or the inability to keep food down, resulting in a temporary loss of weight.
The Mayo Clinic website states that older adults are more susceptible to weight loss, as changes in the senses of taste and smell, depression, and medications can cause a decreased appetite.
Drugs
Occasionally, over-the-counter or prescription drugs can cause nausea or stomach upset and result in temporary weight loss, particularly some antibiotics. Abuse of illegal drugs, such as cocaine, are also known to cause severe loss of weight.
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