Weight Loss

Losing weight may be intentional or unintentional. Conditions that cause unexplained weight loss include overactive thyroid, inflammatory bowel disease, and depression. One can intentionally lose weight to look better or improve overall health.

What are the causes of Unexplained weight loss?

It’s common for your body weight to fluctuate. However, something else might be happening if you are losing weight without changing your habits. If you experience a 5% weight loss in 6 to 12 months or notice any of the above symptoms, visit your doctor. Research shows that unexplained weight loss occurs in 15–20% of people ages 65 and above.

Not all weight loss is serious. It can happen after a life changing or stressful event. However, unexplained or unintentional weight loss may indicate one of these medical conditions:

• Muscle loss (muscle atrophy): This can lead to unexpected weight loss from loss of muscle, most commonly if you don’t use your muscles for a while. It’s most common in people who don’t exercise, work desk jobs, or are bedridden.
• Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid develops when your thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. These hormones control many functions in the body, including metabolism. If your thyroid is overactive, you’ll quickly burn calories even if you have a good appetite.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): This causes your immune system to attack the lining of your joints, leading to inflammation that can speed up metabolism and reduce your overall weight.
• Type 1 diabetes: Your immune system attacks cells in your pancreas that make insulin. Without insulin, your body can’t use glucose for energy. This causes high blood glucose and causes your body to burn fat and muscle for energy.
• Depression: This mood disorder affects the same brain parts that control appetite. This can lead to poor appetite and, eventually, weight loss. In some people, depression may increase appetite. The symptoms vary from person to person.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): The chronic inflammation of IBD puts your body in a catabolic state, which means it constantly uses energy. IBD also disrupts ghrelin, the hunger hormone, and leptin, the satiety hormone. This results in decreased appetite.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): This progressive lung disease includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In later stages, COPD can cause weight loss because labored breathing burns many calories.
• Endocarditis: This is inflammation of your heart’s inner lining or endocardium caused by germs —usually bacteria — that enter the bloodstream and collect in your heart. Most people with endocarditis have a fever. It may come along with a poor appetite. Elevated body temperature also increases metabolism and burns fat, causing weight loss.
• Tuberculosis (TB): This contagious condition usually affects the lungs. Weight loss and decreased appetite are major symptoms of TB, but the reasons aren’t fully understood.
• Cancer: This is the general term for diseases that cause abnormal cells to quickly divide and spread. One of the first signs may be unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more. Cancer increases inflammation, promoting muscle wasting and disrupting appetite-regulating hormones. A growing tumor may also increase your resting energy expenditure (REE) or how much energy your body burns at rest.
• Addison’s disease: This rare condition causes the immune system to attack the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands can’t make enough hormones like cortisol and aldosterone. Cortisol regulates many functions, including metabolism and appetite. Low levels of cortisol may lead to poor appetite.
• HIV: This virus attacks immune cells called T cells, making fighting infections difficult. If left untreated, HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Advanced forms of these conditions often cause weight loss from nutritional deficiency and decreased hunger caused by illness symptoms. Learn more about HIV and weight loss.
• Congestive heart failure (CHF): This develops when the heart can’t fill up with enough blood, pump blood with enough force, or both. Your digestive system can’t receive enough blood, leading to nausea and early fullness. It might be hard to breathe while eating, and the inflammation in damaged heart tissue also speeds up metabolism.

How can I lose weight?

1. Eat protein, fat, and vegetables

Aim to include a variety of foods at each meal. To balance your plate, your meals should include protein, fat, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates.

2. Move your body

Cardio workouts include things such as walking, jogging, running, cycling, or swimming. Learn more about types of weight training exercises. A combination of aerobic and weight training are good for your health. While each type of exercise is good on its own, together they are better at helping you lose weight.

3. Eat more fiber

Fiber moves slowly through the digestive tract and can help you feel fuller for longer to support weight loss. It might also stabilize blood sugar levels, promote regularity, and protect against certain chronic conditions. Food groups like grains and fruit that contain a lot of fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, breads, and legumes.

4. Eat mindfully

Having a good understanding of how your body responds to food and eating can help you make sure you’re not overeating. This is known as mindful eating. It can involve the following:

• Eating more slowly
• Learning to recognize when you’re hungry vs. when you’re craving food for emotional reasons
• Cooking colorful foods with a variety of textures to prolong and enjoy your meals

The reason eating quickly can be problematic is that it doesn’t allow your brain to register consciously when you’re full. Eating slowly gives your stomach more time to tell your brain you’re full, which helps you learn to distinguish the feeling of genuine hunger vs. fullness. This can result in you eating less.

5. Stay hydrated

Drinking plenty of water can help promote weight loss by reducing your food intake, especially if you drink water before a meal. It might also work by increasing fat burning, which can help enhance long-term weight loss.

6. Get plenty of sleep

In addition to changing your diet and exercise routine, getting enough sleep each night may be beneficial for weight loss. Plus, sleep deprivation might also alter levels of hormones that control hunger and appetite. As a general rule of thumb, it’s recommended to aim for at least 7 hours of high-quality sleep each night.