What Does Losing Weight Without Trying Mean

If you’ve ever noticed a sudden drop in weight after an illness, you’ve experienced unintentional weight loss fluctuation. But if you can’t point to something that may have caused the change on the scale, losing weight without trying or unexplained weight loss can be very scary.

Unintentional weight loss refers to a reduction in body weight that occurs without conscious effort or intention, says Carlo Manzana, M.D., a family medicine physician with PlushCare. “From a medical standpoint, this is typically characterized by a significant and rapid decrease in weight, usually around 5% of total body weight within a span of six to 12 months.”

Meet the Experts:Lydia C. Alexander, M.D., chief medical officer at Enara Health and president-elect of the Obesity Medicine Association, Mir Ali, M.D., bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center, Linda Anegawa, M.D., F.A.C.P., a double board-certified physician in internal medicine and obesity medicine and former medical director at PlushCare, Anne Cappola, M.D., an endocrinologist and professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Kerry Hildreth, M.D., an assistant professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Colorado, Rekha Kumar, M.D., endocrinologist and associated professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell, Carlo Manzana, M.D., a family medicine physician with PlushCare, Jamile Wakim-Fleming, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic.

Unexplained Weight Loss

It is normal for weight to fluctuate, typically between five to 10 lbs, and can be due to how much you’re eating, drinking, and moving in a given time period, explains Mir Ali, M.D., bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center. But any more than that, and you haven’t changed your diet, it could be a sign of something bigger, he adds.

In fact, unexplained weight loss could be an early sign of a serious health condition, says Kerry Hildreth, M.D., an assistant professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Colorado. So if you’re experiencing unexplained weight loss, it’s best to see a doctor. They can then ask questions associated with the symptoms and potentially perform a blood test or imaging test depending on your symptoms, says Linda Anegawa, M.D., F.A.C.P., a double board-certified physician in internal medicine and obesity medicine and former medical director at PlushCare.

Weight loss is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) says Anne Cappola, M.D., an endocrinologist and professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. This means your thyroid—the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that helps regulate your metabolism and growth—is pumping out too many hormones, resulting in a slew of body changes.

Scary Reasons Behind Unintended Weight Loss

“If I suspected a thyroid issue, I’d probably look for increased hunger or heart palpitations, ” she explains. Sleeping problems or feeling hot all the time are also common symptoms of an overactive thyroid, she says.

Dr. Hildreth mentions something experts refer to as the “obesity paradox.” Later in life, weight loss—not weight gain—is associated with a greater risk of death. “As we age, the stomach empties more slowly, which makes you feel fuller longer, ” she says. “Also, some of the brain signals that control appetite and fullness become attenuated, ” Dr. Hildreth adds. All of this can lead to older adults eating less, losing weight, and failing to get enough nutrients to support their bodies’ needs. Treatment: Consult a registered dietitian or healthcare professional and find a meal plan that works for you. Be sure you’re eating enough protein to help your body carry out important bodily functions, like curbing hunger, stabilizing blood sugar, and building muscle mass—which people lose as they get older. “Many medications can also affect your appetite, so you need to pay attention to how much and how often you’re eating, ” Dr. Hildreth adds.

Celiac disease—an autoimmune disorder in which ingesting gluten causes damage to the small intestine—can lead to a drop in weight, and tends to be accompanied by other GI symptoms like bloating and diarrhea, says Jamile Wakim-Fleming, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic.

How To Lose Weight Without Trying

If you have celiac disease and eat gluten, your immune system can go a little out of whack. This reaction can mess with the lining of your small intestine, hampering its ability to help you absorb nutrients properly, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Treatment: According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, the only treatment for celiac disease at the moment is to adhere to a strict gluten-free diet.

Dr. Ali notes that stress and depression can make weight fluctuate to some extent. Loss of appetite is a common side effect of clinical depression and one that can promote unexplained weight loss if you’re unaware that your mood swings are something a bit more serious. “In a lot of cases, the person doesn’t even notice they’re losing weight because they’re mired in the depression, ” Dr. Cappola explains. Irritability, heavy drinking, indecision, and problems sleeping are other common symptoms of depression.

Unexplained Weight Loss: Causes And When To See A Doctor

Problems with your pancreas, which produces enzymes that aid in digestion, can also lead to unexplained weight loss, Dr. Wakim-Fleming says. People with chronic pancreatitis—a disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed—tend to lose weight quickly (even if they are eating normally) because the body simply doesn’t produce enough enzymes for proper digestion of food to occur, according to The National Pancreas Foundation. Look for symptoms like stomach pain, discolored (or oily) poop, diarrhea, or nausea after eating fatty foods.

Treatment: Your doctor might prescribe painkillers, a change in diet, and antibiotics if you have an infection, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

“Especially early on, new-onset diabetes can cause weight loss, ” Dr. Cappola says. While this typically occurs in a type 1 diabetes diagnosis, it can occur in type 2 as well, per the Cleveland Clinic. You may also feel super thirsty and notice you’re peeing all the time. “Your body is literally peeing out glucose because you can’t absorb it, and that drives thirst, ” she explains. If you have continuously high blood sugar frequently, it can cause your body to suck nourishment from your muscles, which fuels the sudden weight drop.

How To Lose Weight Without Exercise

Treatment: Your doctor may prescribe oral drugs for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Or in cases of type 1 diabetes and some type 2 diabetes, insulin therapy will be required.

Dr. Hildreth says inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA)—an auto-immune disease where your immune system attacks your healthy tissues by mistake—or some types of infection can knock out a sufferer’s appetite, causing a drop on the scale. These conditions can also cause inflammation in your gut, which could mess with nutrient absorption, leading to unexplained weight loss before diagnosis.

Treatment: RA can be treated and managed with medications like disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS) and biological response modifiers (biologicals). Some may choose to add pain management strategies to their treatment plan, too, according to the Centers for Disease Control and (CDC).

Foods To Avoid If Trying To Lose Weight

Several types of cancer, as well as a tumor or ulcer in your stomach or intestines, can cause inflammation or malabsorption issues that may lead to a drop in weight, Dr. Wakim-Fleming says. “If someone comes to me with unexplained weight loss, I’ll check their stomach and colon and bowels for tumors or inflammation, ” she says. “I’ll als0 look for tumors in the esophagus”—the tube that connects your throat and stomach—“which can make it hard to swallow.” Dr. Ali adds that battling cancer consumes a lot of calories, so the disease itself may be making you unintentionally drop pounds.

Treatment: Cancer treatments are constantly evolving, and each type and stage of cancer responds to different treatments. Some common options are chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

Addison’s disease is a condition of the adrenal glands where they don’t produce the right amounts of cortisol and aldosterone. Though not very common, Addison’s disease can cause endocrine-related weight loss that presents itself with thirst, salt cravings, and weakness, says Rekha Kumar, M.D., endocrinologist and associated professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell. This is because the adrenal glands aren’t functioning properly, which may throw your metabolism off.

How To Get Healthier Without Dieting — Registered Dietitian Columbia Sc

Additionally, Addison’s disease impacts the salt and water balance in your body, blood pressure, and your ability to manage stress, says Lydia C. Alexander, M.D., chief medical officer at Enara Health and president-elect of the Obesity Medicine Association. Weight loss can happen due to loss of appetite from nausea or abdominal pain, fatigue, or dehydration, she adds.

Treatment: Medication is often prescribed to treat Addison’s disease, according to the Mayo Clinic, which may include hormone replacement therapy or corticosteroids.

As you age, Dr. Kumar says it’s very common to experience muscle loss from lack of physical activity, which can turn into weight loss. This is because muscle is heavier than fat, which can tip the scale lower.

Weight Loss Plateaus Explained

“This is particularly a serious concern in adults over age 65. One of the biggest concerns resulting from unintentional weight loss in this group is Sarcopenia, meaning loss of muscle mass and strength, ” warns Dr. Anegawa. “Sarcopenia is associated with worsening functional impairment, disability, falls, and mortality.”

Though weight loss isn’t necessarily a symptom of autoimmune disease Sjögren’s syndrome (a disease that impacts saliva production), the condition may cause