Unexpected Weight Loss

If you experience weight loss without trying to lose weight, it may accompany other symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms that frequently affect digestion may also involve other body systems.

Weight loss may accompany symptoms affecting the digestive system including:

• Abdominal bloating or abdominal pain
• Bad breath
• Chronic constipation
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dry mouth
• Loose or painful teeth
• Loss of appetite
• Mouth sores
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pale feces or abnormally foul-smelling stools
• Puffy cheeks from swollen salivary glands
• Severe or chronic diarrhea

Weight loss may accompany other symptoms affecting behaviors or thought processes including:

• Alternating binging and purging
• Depression
• Difficulty with memory, thinking, or poor judgment
• Distorted or inaccurate “overweight” body image
• Excessive use of laxatives or diet pills
• Intentional vomiting
• Obsessive-compulsive behaviors
• Refusing to eat in front of others or pretending to eat
• Substance abuse

Unexpected weight loss may accompany symptoms related to other body systems including:

• Bloodshot eyes
• Bone or joint pain
• Dry, blotchy or yellowed skin covered with fine hair
• Extreme temperature sensitivity
• Fatigue
• Frequent urination
• Loss of body fat
• Loss of muscle mass, wasting of muscle, or muscle weakness
• Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
• Rash, pimples, itchy skin, or darkening of the skin
• Weakness

In some cases, weight loss may be a symptom of a life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including:

• Confusion or loss of consciousness for even a brief moment
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness or wooziness
• Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
• Marked dehydration
• Severe abdominal pain
• Severe diarrhea
• Severe vomiting
• Vomiting blood

Weight loss as a symptom can be caused by diseases affecting almost any part of the body, including ongoing infections, AIDS, cancers, depression, painful mouth sores, missing teeth, chronic liver disease, kidney disease, respiratory disease, hypothyroidism, heart disease, and chronic diarrhea or other digestive disorders. Weight loss can also be caused by loss of appetite due to dementia or by certain eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia.

Some drugs can cause abnormal weight loss as well. Rapid or persistent weight loss is very dangerous, can cause severe damage to multiple systems, and should always be investigated as soon as possible.

Weight loss may be caused by digestive or gastrointestinal system disorders including:

• Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract

• Celiac disease (severe sensitivity to gluten from wheat and other grains that causes intestinal damage)

• Chronic diarrhea

• Gastrointestinal infection

• Inflammatory bowel disease (includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)

• Malabsorption syndrome

• Peptic ulcer

Weight loss can also be caused by endocrine or hormonal disorders including:

• Addison’s disease (disease characterized by underactive adrenal glands)

• Diabetes

• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)

Weight loss may also be caused by other conditions including:

• Adrenal insufficiency
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Cancers
• Certain medications
• Congestive heart failure
• COPD
• Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia
• HIV/AIDS
• Infections
• Kidney disease
• Lead exposure
• Malnutrition

To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to your weight loss including:

• How much weight have you lost? Over what period of time?
• Have you had any vomiting, diarrhea, or other digestive symptoms?
• What other health problems do you have?
• Have you been depressed or anxious about anything?
• Do you have any other symptoms?
• What medications are you taking?
• Do you use any street drugs, drink alcohol, or smoke?

Because weight loss can be due to serious diseases, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:

• Amenorrhea
• Bone loss or weakening
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Organ failure
• Spread of cancer
• Spread of infection