Undesirable or unintentional weight loss is defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as "a decrease in body weight that is not voluntary." If you are experiencing undesirable weight loss without a change in diet or physical activity, and it is not resolved by an increase in calories, make sure to address this with your doctor to find out if the cause is related to an underlying medical condition.
Causes
Some of the causes of unintentional weight loss as listed by the National Institutes of Health include AIDS, cancer, depression, chronic diarrhea, certain drugs, drug abuse, eating disorders, hyperthyroidism, infection, loss of appetite, malnutrition, poor dental health and smoking. Unintentional weight loss is most commonly seen in the elderly. According to a Doctor Grace Brooke Huffman in her article on unintentional weight loss in the elderly, some of the leading causes of weight loss in the elderly are depression, cancer, cardiac disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, certain medications, decreased sense of taste and smell, poor oral health and low socioeconomic status.
Several types of cancers and their treatments can result in weight loss. Weight loss from the cancer can be due to an increase in metabolism and anorexia--a decrease in appetite. In HIV infected patients, weight loss is a common side effect of the medications used to treat the infection. The goal with any illness or infection is to avoid cachexia, which is defined by Merck Manuals as, a metabolic condition that involves wasting of both fat and muscle tissue
Health Risks
The health risks of being underweight can be just as harmful as being overweight. According, to the Weight-Control Information Network (WIN) the risks of being underweight are poor memory, decreased immunity, osteoporosis, decreased muscle strength, hypothermia or a lowered body temperature and constipation. You may also be at risk for certain nutritional deficiencies.
Prevention
Address unintentional weight loss with your doctor and a registered dietitian. Your doctor will determine the cause of the weight loss and a dietitian can help you create an appropriate meal plan. Prevention of further weight loss will likely be treated by increasing the number of calories in your diet. One way to do this is to add high-calorie snacks between meals.
Tips for Weight Gain
Add high-calorie, high-protein snacks or supplements between meals. Examples of these snacks include a peanut butter and honey sandwich; oatmeal made with milk and topped with dried cranberries, almonds and wheat germ; trail mix with dried fruit and nuts; shakes or smoothies made with yogurt and peanut butter; bread dipped in olive oil; and yogurt mixed with nuts and dried fruit. Yo may find it easier to add a liquid nutritional supplement between meals, like Ensure or Boost, or to add a packet of instant breakfast to milk.
Meal Planning Tips
To get adequate calories during the day, start off the day with a good breakfast and eat throughout the day, every two to three hours. Avoid skipping meals because it will be difficult to make up for the lost calories.
References
- Weight-Control Information Network: Young At Heart, Tips for Older Adults
- Medline Plus: Weight Loss--Unintentional
- "American Family Physician"; Evaluating and Treating Unintentional Weight Loss in the Elderly; Grace Brooke Huffman, M.D.; 2002
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