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Sudden Weight Loss

Can someone explain the meaning of sudden weight loss? I need to know why sudden weight loss is not good when an individual experiences it.
(March 3, 2011)

Sudden Weight Loss

Losing weight through healthy diet and regular exercise is a good thing. But some individuals may experience sudden weight loss due to more serious reasons. This kind of weight loss may be a symptom of any underlying health complication. Therefore proper diagnosis and treatment is important. It is necessary to determine sudden weight loss causes so that the appropriate treatment can be given.




Weight loss occurs when fat, fluids or muscle mass is shed. Going on a diet can cause an individual to lose a considerable amount of weight. However, if 5 percent of total body weight is lost in one year or less, it can pose a serious concern. There are various causes of sudden weight loss. Some individuals lose weight rapidly due to eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa is a psychological disorder that usually occurs among young women. Due to a concern about gaining weight, the individual severely restricts food intake. This leads to weight loss and many other symptoms such as hair fall, cessation of menstruation and weakened immunity. Bulimia nervosa is another cause of sudden weight loss in women wherein an individual eats excessively and then engages in rigorous exercise to control the weight. Stress and anxiety can also result in loss of weight. These feelings can arise due to several factors such as pressure at work, personal relationships and financial worries. Depression can also lead to sudden weight loss as it reduces appetite. There is also an association between sudden weight loss and cancer. Weight loss is likely to occur due to any type of cancer because the tumors present in the body increase metabolism. As a result, burning of calories takes place faster and leads to rapid weight loss. Weight loss can also occur in individuals who are undergoing cancer treatment. Another cause of sudden weight loss is chronic diarrhea. This may occur due to consumption of certain foods or viral infections. Diarrhea that continues for more than 4 weeks is termed as chronic. Chronic diarrhea may be attributed to conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. Diabetes can be a cause of sudden weight loss in men and women. It occurs more commonly in case of type 1 diabetes. This type of diabetes is observed in children and adults below the age of 30 years. Individuals with Addison’s disease often experience weight loss along with low blood pressure and tiredness. This disease is characterized by an inadequate production of cortisol. The hormone cortisol is necessary for metabolism and when there are insufficient amounts of this hormone, weight loss is likely to take place. Some of the other causes of sudden weight loss include tuberculosis, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease and GERD. Advancing age can also bring about loss of weight.

The treatment of sudden weight loss will depend upon the cause. It is important to consult a doctor so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated properly. The doctor may prescribe certain medications. In order to gain back healthy weight, dietary modifications and exercise may also be necessary.

 

Submitted by A V on March 3, 2011 at 05:38

 

Advice on Rapid Weight Loss

Even though it's a good sign to lose weight during a well balanced diet, unexplained or weight loss that has sudden and abrupt without being influenced by dieting or lack of food is a matter of grave concern. Sudden weight loss can be attributed to severe stress, serious illness that is still undiagnosed, eating disorders, hyperactive thyroid gland, internal infections, abnormalities in absorption, serious stomach disorders, emotional disturbances, depressive illness etc.

Sudden weight loss which does not really pinpoint to any external or obvious cause must be thoroughly looked into especially if there are feelings of being tired and trembling associated with the weight loss. It is best to discover the root cause of the problem with the help of the doctor in order to begin treatment and treat the underlying causes. A decrease in hunger pangs or eating habits can be a common occurrence during a bout of flu or other comparatively short-run sicknesses. It is also possible that eating habits can suffer in the event of mental or emotional upheavals. Once the issue is dealt with and solved, the eating habits are likely to resume to normalcy.

If the individual is experiencing extreme loss in weight that is more than eight to 10 pounds in a matter of days or weeks, then the case requires urgent medical treatment.
Submitted by C N on May 5, 2008 at 06:39

 

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