causes of unintentional weight loss

Causes of unintentional weight loss & sudden weight loss effects

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Unintentional weight loss definition

Unintentional weight loss is indeed a bad sign for our health. Unintentional weight loss is known to be clinically important if it reaches 4-6% of the normal body weight for a span of 5 to 10 months. 

Bodyweight is determined by the caloric intake, absorptive capacity, metabolic rate, loss of energy and metabolic capacity of a person. Unintentional weight loss is also a symptom of severe physical or psychological disorder. 

Causes of unintentional weight loss

There are many health issues that can also cause to lose weight. Unintentional weight loss can be an indicator of malnutrition, following are some reasons; 

Unintentional weight loss  depression

Depression is a psychological disorder condition with a chronic and persistent low mood accompanied by reduced self-esteem and a loss of interest or pleasure in normally pleasant activities. Weight loss can be a side effect of depression, affecting the same areas of the brain that regulate appetite. This can lead to decreased appetite and unexpected weight loss.

Unintentional weight loss  hyperthyroidism 

Hyperthyroidism occurs when too much thyroid hormone is produced from the thyroid gland. In the body, these hormones perform many functions, including regulating our body's metabolism. 

If the thyroid is overactive, calories can burn easily, even if you have a good appetite. The effect may be weight loss involuntary.

Unintentional weight loss  diabetes

As we all know that diabetes is a metabolic disorder, especially type 1 diabetes is a cause of unintentional of weight loss. In type 1 diabetes our immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in our pancreas, without insulin our body can not use glucose for energy. 

That leads to high blood glucose. Our kidneys use urine to expel excess glucose. When the sugar leaves our body, so do calories.

Unintentional weight loss, inflammatory bowel disease  (IBD)

Unintended weight loss may be a symptom of the inflammatory intestinal disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis is also known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD symptoms, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, bloody stools, stomach pain etc). 

The persistent inflammation of inflammatory intestinal disease positions our body in a catabolic state, meaning that it continuously uses up energy. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) also interferes with ghrelin, satiety hormone and appetite hormone. This leads to increased appetite and weight loss.

Unintentional weight loss  cancer

Cancer arises when the normal control system of the body stops functioning, because of abnormal cells to rapidly divide and spread, it increases inflammation. This stimulates muscle wasting and disrupts hormone-regulating appetite. Lung, pancreas, stomach, and cancers of the oesophagus cause fast weight loss.

Unintentional weight loss  TB (tuberculosis)

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease, which typically affects the lungs but may also affect the brain, spine or kidneys. 

Tuberculosis is spread by air from person to person. TB is due to a bacterium known as mycobacterium tuberculosis. Prominent symptoms of tuberculosis include unexplained weight loss and reduced appetite.

Unintentional weight loss HIV  (human immunodeficiency virus)

HIV is a virus that targets the immune system gradually, as it attacks and destroys the immune system's infection-fighting CD4 cells. HIV can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) if left untreated. That condition is responsible for reduces weight and appetite.

Unintentional weight loss  congestive heart failure 

If the heart cannot pump enough blood to fulfil the body's demand, so we call it congestive heart failure (CHF), congestive heart failure can affect one or both sides of the heart. 

In congestive heart failure (CHF), the digestive system can not get enough blood, making it difficult to consume and digest food, leading to rapid weight loss.

Unintentional weight loss, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COD) is a category of lung diseases that block airflow and cause chronic bronchitis or emphysema to make breathing difficult. Inflammation of the respiratory tract also decreases appetite and is a frequent cause of weight loss.

Unintentional weight loss and rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory condition whose primary manifestation is recurrent joint synovitis. Rheumatoid arthritis signs include joint pain and swelling, it is speeding up metabolism, and reducing body weight.

Unintentional weight loss anorexia nervosa 

Anorexia nervosa is a psychological condition characterized by refusing to eat to lose weight. Low body weight and the patient with poor body image are the key signs of anorexia nervosa. In anorexia nervosa, because of fear of obesity, the patient loses weight badly.

Unintentional weight loss while breastfeeding

Unintentional weight loss during breastfeeding is very normal, most weight can come off easily because  400 to 600 calories burned during breastfeeding, because of that breastfeeding mothers lose weight quickly. 

Therefore, breastfeeding mother is advised to eat a healthy diet. Similarly, a balanced diet should be eaten during pregnancy as it also increases a woman's nutritional needs.

Sudden weight loss effects

Sudden weight loss affects our heart, liver and kidneys badly, it is by no means a sign of good health. People with sudden weight loss have sagging skin, especially facial and abdominal skin. Such people are irritable and feel cold, dizzy and tired.

Unintentional weight loss labs

First, the doctor diagnoses the cause of sudden weight loss, various tests can be done to find out the reasons for that.

These include blood CBC, serological tests including HIV, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, urinalysis, chest X-rays, cancer screening, mammography, Papanicolaou smear, prostate-specific antigen and gastrointestinal tests such as endoscopy, malabsorption.

Unintentional weight loss treatment

Weight stabilisation occurs in most surviving patients with both established and unknown causes of weight loss through underlying disorder treatment and caloric supplementation.

Nutrient intake targets are set in relation to the weight loss magnitude, usually between 40 and 50 kcal/kg /d. 

A variety of pharmacological agents have been recommended for weight loss care. These can be classified into anabolic agents, appetite stimulants, and anti catabolism agents. 

If you are losing weight fast with no reason, you should not take any medicine for it by yourself,  consult a doctor immediately. It should never be ignored.