Unexplained weight loss is medically concerning because it suggests that a pathological process is at work in your body. While there are many causes of unexplained weight loss, relatively few affect men more than women. For example, prostate cancer, Crohn's disease and pancreatic cancer are all more common in men than in women. However, if you are experiencing unexplained weight loss, see your doctor so that the cause can be identified.
Causes of Unexplained Weight Loss
According to Carol M. Reife in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," the list of disorders that can cause unexplained weight loss, in men or women, is very long. It includes cancers -- of which, prostate cancer and certain gastrointestinal cancers show a male predominance -- endocrine and metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, noncancerous gastrointestinal disorders, such as Crohn's disease, and a wide variety of chronic diseases involving every organ system in the body. Depression, particularly in the elderly, is also a cause of weight loss.
Cancer
According to the National Institutes of Health, cancer is a generic term for a group of disorders that involve uncontrolled growth of cells in your body. It can be caused by inheriting certain cancer-causing genes, or it can be induced by exposure to cancer-causing factors in the environment -- for example, sun exposure can cause skin cancer. According to Patricia A. Cornett and Tiffany O. Dea in "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment," common symptoms of cancer include weight loss, night sweats and changes in appetite. The three most common cancers in men are prostate, lung and colon cancer. Of these, prostate cancer occurs only in men.
Prostate Cancer
According to Emil A. Tanagho in "Smith's General Urology," the prostate is a gland that lies just underneath the bladder and secretes a substance that aids in the formation of semen. According to "Current Medical Diagnosis," although prostate cancer may present with general symptoms such as weight loss, and specific symptoms such as urinary retention, it is most often asymptomatic and found only by screening tests. It is also very common -- up to 67 percent of men aged 80 to 89 who die of non-cancer-related causes will have evidence of prostate cancer at autopsy.
Depression
According to Crystal March and Charles F. Reynolds in "Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Family Medicine," depression is common in both men and women and is particularly common in the elderly. Besides weight loss, other symptoms of depression include depressed mood, lack of energy and difficulty sleeping. Treatment consists of antidepressant medication and is typically effective in reversing some of the symptoms of depression, although relapses are common.
Gastrointestinal Disease
According to "Current Medical Diagnosis," disorders that cause problems with nutrient absorption in the small intestine can also lead to weight loss. These include Crohn's disease, celiac disease and pancreatic disease, among others. Of these, Crohn's disease and pancreatic cancer are slightly more prevalent in males than in females, while others are evenly distributed or show a female-predominant pattern of development.
References
- "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment"; Stephen J. McPhee and Maxine A. Papadakis (editors); 2009
- "Smith's General Urology"; Emil A. Tanagho and Jack W. McAninch; 2008
- "Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Family Medicine"; Jeannette E. South-Paul, Samuel C. Matheny, Evelyn L. Lewis; 2008
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Anthony S. Fauci, Eugene Braunwald, Dennis L. Kasper, Stephen L. Hauser, Dan L. Longo, J. Larry Jameson, and Joseph Loscalzo (editors); 2008
- National Institutes of Health: Cancer Questions and Answers
Member Comments