About Unexpected Weight Loss

Unexplained weight loss is often a sign of underlying illness. Never take it lightly. Many people are so busy with their daily schedules they do not even realize there is a problem until a more serious symptom arises. When you spot weight fluctuations, you need to understand what makes it a potential problem and when not to worry.

Identification

Weigh yourself daily. As long as you are maintaining your weight, it is safe to consider small fluctuations of a pound or two either way as acceptable. If you notice a steady change in either direction, it is time to take action. Obesity is easier to avoid when checking regularly, but the main benefit to regular weigh-ins is catching troubling weight loss that might otherwise go unnoticed. In people of normal weight, a loss of even 10 pounds (or more than 5 percent of your total body weight) is a signal something is up unless there is another explanation.

Examine Your Routine

First, check your daily habits and activities for possible reasons for the weight loss. Planned calisthenics, work-related exertion or other activities can cause weight loss you might not expect. Track your diet for several days. Write down everything you eat to see if you are unintentionally skipping meals or eating fewer calories than needed for daily activities. If you do not find any underlying reasons, consult your physician in order to avert serious complications from delayed diagnosis.

Possible Solutions

Before becoming alarmed, examine other potential trouble spots. Denture wearers with ill-fitting plates often eat less without thinking about it in order to avoid the pain of problem dentures. Depression or anxiety may cause a change in eating habits. If the problem is temporary, it will correct itself. If it is ongoing, it is important to seek medical intervention. Unexplained weight loss also is a sign of uncontrolled alcohol or drug abuse. If you notice a loved one losing weight and you expect they have a substance abuse problem, confront them or seek help to deal with the situation before it becomes more serious.

Potential Problems

Cancer, undiagnosed infections, digestive disorders, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and endocrine malfunctions all cause weight loss. All of the potential problems associated with unexplained weight loss are serious and some are deadly. If discovered early enough, however, many of them are controllable. Weight fluctuations often are the first sign of these problems, so watching your weight is important for your overall health, not just to avoid obesity.

Medical Treatment

Physical health problems that trigger unexplained weight loss have differing courses of treatment. Your physician will set up a course of medical care that will address the problems and help control your weight. Psychological problems are likely to include counseling and/or intervention for those unwilling to address the problem themselves. In order to control your weight loss and the underlying problems that cause it, follow all of your physician's advice and report any side effects or continued weight loss to your doctor immediately.