Unexplained Weight Loss

Many people lose weight as a way to better health. There are also health conditions that cause unintentional weight loss, and these can be cause for concern. Read this to learn the signs of when you should see a doctor about your unexplained weight loss.

9 minute read

Last Updated April 7, 2022

Many people lose weight as a way to improve health or as a result of stress. There are also circumstances that cause unintentional weight loss, and these are typically related to health concerns.

Unexplained weight loss can be a symptom of a serious health condition or disease. Losing more than 5 percent of your weight within 6 to 12 months is considered significant and needs to be bought to your doctor’s attention.

Common Causes of Unexplained Weight Loss

Unintended weight loss can be a cause for concern and can indicate any of these health problems:

Muscle Loss

Muscle loss or muscle wasting is a cause for unintentional weight loss because muscle mass contributes to your overall weight. The symptoms include muscle weakness, and your limbs may look smaller than usual.

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This happens when you do not use your muscles for a while, which is common in those who do not exercise or work desk jobs.

Overactive Thyroid

When your thyroid is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone, your metabolism becomes affected. This causes you to burn calories quickly, and it can result in unintentional weight loss.

You may also notice trouble sleeping, fatigue, and heat intolerance. Depending on the severity, an overactive thyroid can be treated with medications.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

This autoimmune condition attacks your joints, causing chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can speed up your metabolism leading to weight loss. You will also notice swelling and pain in your joints, especially after a long period of inactivity.

Congestive Heart Failure

CHF develops when the heart cannot fill up with enough blood, or when the heart cannot pump blood with enough force, or both. It can affect one or both sides of the heart, and it makes breathing difficult when eating.

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The inflammation of the damaged heart tissue also speeds up your metabolism. Weight loss is one of the main complications of congestive heart failure.

Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes causes unexplained weight loss because it causes your immune system to attack your pancreas. When this happens, you are unable to produce insulin, and without insulin, your body cannot use glucose for energy.

Your kidneys remove the glucose through your urine, and calories are burned during this process.

Depression

Weight loss is a common side effect of depression. Depression interferes with the parts of the brain that control appetite and poor appetite causes weight loss. Along with a loss of appetite, your depression causes irritability, low energy, low concentration, and sleep problems.

IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease commonly causes unexplained weight loss. IBD is marked with chronic inflammation, which puts your body into a permanent catabolic state. This means your body is constantly using energy, which results in weight loss.

IBD also interrupts the production of the hunger hormones leptin and ghrelin, which decreases appetite and increases weight loss.

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive lung disease causing shortness of breath, chest tightness, and mild coughing without mucus. In the later stages, it can cause weight loss as labored breathing burns a lot of calories.

Endocarditis

This is the inflammation of the heart’s inner lining, and it causes fever as well as a loss of appetite. The elevated body temperature increases metabolism causing your body to burn fat quicker and lose weight more rapidly.

Cancer

One of the first signs of cancer is an unexplained weight loss of ten pounds or more. Cancer increases inflammation throughout the body, which promotes muscle wasting and disrupts appetite-regulating hormones. Tumors can also increase your resting energy, which causes you to burn calories quicker even when resting.

Addison’s Disease

This develops when your immune system attacks the adrenal glands and are unable to produce enough cortisol. This hormone regulates metabolism and appetite, so lower levels cause weight loss. You will also experience fatigue and muscle weakness.

a man and a woman walking in the woods

Healthy Weight Loss

Obesity contributes to several serious diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and even cancer. Intentionally losing weight has its benefits and can improve your health and longevity. Exercise can also help you to rebuild muscle and put weight back on in a good way.

Losing weight in a healthy way involves a balanced diet and exercise. Many people think that diet alone is all you need, but exercise plays a vital role.

Exercise can help you lose weight and maintain weight loss by increasing your metabolism and allowing you to control the calories you burn each day. It also helps you increase lean body mass, which can increase how many calories you burn.

Exercising also promotes better health by reducing body fat and lowering your risk for diseases like cancer and heart disease. It also has been shown to improve depression.

When it comes to exercising for healthy weight loss, what matters most is the total amount of exercise rather than what you do in a single session. You can incorporate small changes in your lifestyle to allow for daily exercise by aiming for thirty minutes a day, five times a week.

Be sure to alternate the types of exercise to get the best results. Try yoga, stretching, aerobic exercise, and strength training.

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You can also make subtle changes to your daily routine that will benefit weight loss in a good way:

♦ Always take stairs instead of elevators and escalators
♦ Walk or ride your bike to work or when doing errands instead of taking the car
♦ Park farther away from your destinations, so you have to walk more.

Always talk to your doctor about losing weight and the methods you plan to use. Even when done intentionally, it is important to ensure you do not lose too much and don’t push yourself too hard. Your doctor can best advise a healthy weight loss program involving exercise and dietary changes to help you reach your goals.

Natural Treatment for Weight Loss

Unintentional weight loss related to a digestive disorder is common. The natural alternatives to treat this weight loss involve addressing an unhealthy gut.

A leaky gut or digestive disorder causes inflammation, which interrupts digestion and nutrient absorption. This is what causes weight loss. By repairing the gut, you can promote optimal digestion and prevent unintentional weight loss and malnutrition.

Some natural treatment options for building a healthy gut include:

♦ L-glutamine: This amino acid is easily used by the body to nourish the cells of the intestinal wall. This prevents leaky gut, which can contribute to weight loss.
♦ Caprylic acid: This saturated fatty acid helps to repair damage to the gut and provides antibacterial and antiviral protection in the intestines. This natural protection from infection can prevent unintentional weight loss.
♦ Digestive enzymes: These are required for the proper breakdown of the food you eat. Without these, food is not broken down into the usable nutrients and compounds your body needs. This can result in malnourishment and weight loss.

Sometimes liver damage can be the reason you experience weight loss. An unhealthy liver cannot properly process the nutrients absorbed in the intestines. This can result in malnourishment and weight loss.

One of the most common symptoms of liver disease is unintentional weight loss. You can prevent this by protecting your liver with Black Walnut Hull Powder. This antibacterial compound protects your liver from cancer and disease.

When to See a Doctor

If your weight loss is significant and is accompanied by other unexplained symptoms, you need to see your doctor. They can run tests to identify the reason behind your weight loss. Once the underlying condition is discovered, it can be treated, and further weight loss can be prevented.

When it comes to losing weight deliberately, it is essential to do so in a healthy way. This involves eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise, and this will be beneficial to your overall health.