Fatigue and weight loss can be manifestations of a wide array of underlying causes. Anything from stress and poor nutrition to serious health problems such as diabetes can have symptoms of fatigue and weight loss. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should examine your lifestyle for root causes.
Stress
When you are stressed, whether it be emotional or physical stress, your body produces a chemical called cortisol. Advanced Health & Life Extension reports that chronically high levels of cortisol can result in fatigue and weight gain. When your cortisol levels are high, your body becomes depleted of the chemicals necessary to combat changes in stress levels and your body becomes exhausted. At the opposite end of the spectrum, chronically low levels of cortisol can result in fatigue because your body is not able to produce stress-reactive chemicals in the first place.
Illness
Otherwise inexplicable fatigue and weight loss can be symptoms of several illnesses. One of these illnesses is cancer, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Cancer victims have a tendency to lose their appetite as the disease progresses, resulting in unwanted weight loss. Fatigue becomes more apparent as the disease progresses as well because more and more energy is diverted to growing the out of control cells involved in the cancer. Another illness that may cause both fatigue and weight loss is diabetes. Imbalances in blood sugar levels may cause a loss of appetite resulting in a significant loss of weight. Large swings in insulin levels can also monopolize the energy your body produces, causing chronic fatigue. By no means do the presence of fatigue and weight loss make a diagnosis for cancer or diabetes. Check with your doctor before you come to the conclusion that you are seriously ill.
Nutrition
Your consumption of certain chemicals and nutrients may cause fluctuations in your weight and energy levels. For example, ingesting large amounts of caffeine can cause a spike in adrenaline levels, resulting in increased calorie burning and unwanted weight loss. This adrenaline spike is often followed by a steep crash, which results in severe fatigue. On the flip side, a deficiency of essential nutrients such as iron and vitamin B12 are common causes of fatigue and subsequent weight loss.
Overtraining
While it is important to participate in a regular exercise program, it is possible to train too much. Some of the symptoms of overtraining syndrome are insomnia and unwanted weight gain or weight loss. When your body is placed in a state of stress too often, it fights back, so to speak. Your body is unable to recover and becomes exhausted. You may also experience a loss of appetite, which results in unwanted weight loss. If you suspect that you have overtraining syndrome, you must take time away from training. If you attempt to push through the symptoms, you may end up with serious injuries and a loss of playing time.
Dehydration
Water makes up a significant portion of your overall body weight. Even mild dehydration can result in a surprising amount of sudden and unwanted weight loss. For instance, it is not unusual for athletes or very active people to experience fluctuations of several pounds in water weight from day to day. With a lack of water comes an inability to function at your normal level and a decrease in energy. Drink a sufficient amount of water on a daily basis, particularly if you are participating in an exercise program. Periodically weigh yourself before and after your workout. If you are consuming enough water, your weight will be the same before and after your workout.
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