Thirst is usually the body's natural reaction to fluid loss during exercise or eating salty food. While drinking lots of water is usually a sign of good health, there are certain situations in which the urge to drink liquids is a sign of something more serious. Understanding the thirst and weight loss connection is important to help determine if thirst is to the point where medical attention may be necessary.
Weight Loss and Thirst Related Disease
Excessive thirst together with unexplained weight loss is a predominant symptom associated with diabetes and high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia. According to FamilyDoctor.org and the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, additional symptoms also exist. They include extreme hunger, increased urination, dry skin and lethargy. It is also common to experience tingling or numbness in the feet along with blurry vision. Some patients with these conditions experience recurrent skin, bladder or vaginal yeast infections, and find that sores or bruises fail to heal quickly.
Diabetes, Thirst and Weight Loss
People with diabetes have excessive glucose in their blood. The body reacts to this excess the way it does with anything it does not need -- it eliminates it via urination. Because the extra glucose is continuous, urination becomes frequent, leading to excess fluid loss and extreme thirst.
The cells of a diabetic starve, according to FoxNews, because the body lacks the insulin necessary to deliver glucose from the bloodstream. This starvation leads to weight loss.
Body Fluid Loss
Your body can easily lose body fluids composed of water and salt via profuse sweating, diarrhea and vomiting. According to National Institutes of Health and the Library of Medicine website MedlinePlus, this reaction causes thirst, while the loss of fluids translates into weight loss. In actuality, the body is losing water weight rather than weight from fat, and will gain it back once your liquids are replenished. According to Netdoctor, your body needs approximately one-half cup of water for every 100 calories burnt or lost.
Water and Weight Loss
Adequate water intake can serve as a weight loss aide. According to NetDoctor General Practitioner Dr. Roger Henderson, drinking before eating helps fill the stomach, effectively "tricking" the brain into thinking it is satiated.
Seeking Medical Help
People should consult with a medical professional if thirst is persistent or cannot be explained, or if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, fatigue or blurry vision. In addition, MedlinePlus notes medical attention is necessary when urine output is greater than five quarts daily.
Member Comments