Reasons for Dramatic Weight Loss and Solutions
Significant weight loss may indicate several illnesses, including cancer, hormonal imbalances, and gastrointestinal issues. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye out for and determine the source of any drastic weight loss.
It should be closely monitored when weight loss during a 6–12 month period reaches 4.5–5 kg or more than 5% of baseline weight. If your starting weight is 70 kg, for instance, you should be cautious though you drop up to 4 kg even if you are not dieting or trying to reduce weight.
Reasons for Rapid Weight Loss
One indication of malnutrition, a condition when the body lacks nourishment to carry out its normal functions, is severe weight loss out its functions. Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, can be one cause. Stress or major depression can also make you lose weight.
Apart from the reasons above, drastic weight loss can also be a sign of the following conditions:
1. Hormone disorders
Hormonal disturbances can cause excessive weight loss. are hyperthyroidism and diabetes.
2. Chronic disease
Drastic weight loss is one of the symptoms of chronic disease that indicates organ damage, such as heart failure, kidney failure, or liver failure. Patients with this disease usually experience a loss of appetite.
In addition, autoimmune diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can also cause drastic weight loss.
3. Gastrointestinal disease
Some intestinal disorders that cause drastic weight loss include gastric ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, and pancreatitis. Problems with the absorption of nutrients, such as in celiac disease, can also lead to drastic weight loss.
4. Infection
Infections that can cause drastic weight loss can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. However, keep in mind, not all infections will cause weight loss drastically. Infections that can make the body lose weight significantly are tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and intestinal worms.
5. Cancer
Drastic weight loss can be a cancer symptom, such as lymphoma, leukemia, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer.
6. Dental and oral disease
Toothache, gums, or canker sores do not directly cause weight loss. However, this condition can interfere with the process of chewing and swallowing food, making it difficult to eat.
7. Drug side effects
Long-term medication can affect weight. This can be caused by side effects of nausea and decreased appetite due to the consumption of certain drugs. One of the drugs whose side effects cause weight loss is chemotherapy.
In addition, drug abuse and the habit of consuming alcohol can also cause unhealthy drastic weight loss.
Neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's dementia, can also cause drastic weight loss. This disease causes weight loss indirectly due to reduced independence and the ability to perform various basic activities, including eating.
Because many conditions and diseases can cause drastic weight loss, this complaint needs to be checked by a doctor.
The doctor will perform a complete physical examination, assessment of nutritional status, and investigations if necessary, to determine the cause.
How to Overcome Drastic Weight Loss
How to deal with drastic weight loss depends on the cause.
In addition to overcoming the cause, what is also very important in the treatment of drastic weight loss is to improve the intake of nutrients and calories so that the body's needs are met.
To determine the target of weight gain, improvement of nutrition and the provision of drugs to treat this condition, the participation of nutritionists and other specialists is required, according to the patient's illness.
The doctor will determine the type, amount, and method of feeding, and give nutritional supplements if needed, to improve nutritional status.
Posting Komentar untuk " Reasons for Dramatic Weight Loss and Solutions"