Iron is an essential mineral that your body needs to make complete blood cells. The proteins hemoglobin and myoglobin cannot be made without iron. Both these proteins function to carry oxygen around your body -- hemoglobin is present in red blood cells, and myoglobin is present in muscle tissue. Iron deficiency can be either a cause of a symptom of weight loss. Consult your doctor for medical advice before implementing any dietary or lifestyle changes.
Dieting
If you are dieting for weight loss, it is likely you will be reducing or eliminating high-fat or high-calorie foods from your diet. In the process, you may inadvertently eliminate some of the richest sources of iron from your diet. Iron-rich foods which may be avoided by dieters due to a high calorie or fat content include egg yolks, the dark meat of poultry and red meats -- beef is a particularly rich source of iron.
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia is a relatively common medical problem, caused by insufficient iron in the diet or by inefficient absorption of dietary iron. MedLine Plus indicates that your body keeps a store of iron to replace any iron lost, but in the long term you may become anemic if you do not top up your body's iron store through diet or supplements. Weight loss is one symptom of irond deficiency anemia -- other symptoms include dizziness, headache, irritability, shortness of breath and a general lack of energy.
Risk Factors
Certain populations are at greater risk of developing iron deficiency anemia than others. If you have recently had a baby, for example, your risk of iron deficiency is quite high. Given that it is common for new mothers to try and lose the "baby weight," iron deficiency may also occur due to dieting and weight loss efforts at this time. Strict vegetarians are also at risk for iron deficiency, as iron from non-meat sources is absorbed less efficiently by the body. Long-distance runners are also at an increased risk for iron deficiency, representing another population in which weight loss efforts may further increase the risk of iron deficiency.
Prevention/Solution
If you notice sudden or unintentional weight loss and believe this may be due to iron deficiency anemia, consult your doctor for medical advice. If you are trying to lose weight, ensure you maintain adequate dietary intake of iron, whether by taking iron supplements or by selecting iron-rich, diet-friendly foods. Some low-fat and low-calorie iron sources include dried beans, cereals fortified with iron, and lean cuts of red meat. Salmon, tuna and whole grains also contain iron.
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