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Weight Loss: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
Weight loss refers to a reduction in body weight. It can be intentional or unintentional and may indicate various underlying health conditions.
Add as Preferred SourceThings worth knowing about "Weight loss"
Weight loss refers to a reduction in body weight. It can be intentional or unintentional and may indicate various underlying health conditions.
What is Weight Loss?
Weight loss refers to a decrease in total body weight over a period of time. A distinction is made between intentional weight loss – achieved through dietary changes or increased physical activity – and unintentional weight loss, which may signal an underlying medical condition. Unintentional weight loss of more than 5 % of body weight within 6 to 12 months is considered clinically significant and warrants medical evaluation.
Causes
The causes of weight loss are diverse and range from lifestyle-related factors to serious medical conditions:
- Dietary causes: Caloric deficit due to reduced food intake or increased energy expenditure
- Metabolic disorders: e.g., hyperthyroidism, type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Gastrointestinal conditions: e.g., Crohn disease, coeliac disease, chronic diarrhoea
- Infectious diseases: e.g., tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, parasitic infections
- Cancer: Malignant diseases are frequently associated with unintentional weight loss (cancer cachexia)
- Mental health conditions: e.g., depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa
- Medications: Certain drugs can suppress appetite or alter metabolism
- Heart failure or chronic kidney disease
Symptoms and Associated Complaints
Unintentional weight loss often occurs alongside other symptoms that may point to the underlying cause:
- Fatigue and general weakness
- Loss of appetite (anorexia)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Changes in bowel habits (diarrhoea, constipation)
- Fever or night sweats
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Mood changes or depressive symptoms
Diagnosis
When unintentional weight loss is present, a thorough diagnostic workup is carried out by a healthcare provider:
- Medical history: Assessment of weight trends, dietary habits, accompanying symptoms, and current medications
- Physical examination: Evaluation of general condition, palpation of organs and lymph nodes
- Laboratory tests: Complete blood count, thyroid function, blood glucose, inflammatory markers, kidney and liver function
- Imaging: Ultrasound, X-ray, or CT scan depending on the suspected diagnosis
- Specialised tests: e.g., endoscopy if a gastrointestinal cause is suspected
Treatment
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the weight loss:
- Treatment of the underlying condition: e.g., medication for hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or infections
- Nutritional therapy: Dietary counselling, calorie-dense foods, oral nutritional supplements, or – in severe cases – artificial nutrition
- Psychotherapy: For weight loss related to eating disorders or mental health conditions
- Appetite stimulants: Pharmacological options may be considered in specific cases
- Physiotherapy and exercise therapy: To preserve muscle strength and overall functional capacity
When to See a Doctor?
Medical attention is strongly recommended when:
- more than 5 % of body weight has been lost within 6 to 12 months without an obvious reason,
- weight loss is accompanied by fever, night sweats, severe fatigue, or other concerning symptoms,
- known risk factors are present, such as older age, smoking, or pre-existing conditions.
References
- Deutsches Ärzteblatt – Unintentional Weight Loss: Causes and Diagnostic Approach (2020)
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Nutrition and weight management guidelines
- Longo DL et al. – Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th edition, McGraw-Hill (2018)
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