Unintended weight loss

definition

Unintentional weight loss is the loss of body weight that was not intentionally brought about by the person concerned, for example through increased physical activity or reduced food intake.

introduction

A weight loss of over 10% of the original body weight within six months is considered unnatural. This constellation can occur, for example, as a symptom of various diseases and is associated with fever and Night sweats Part of the so-called B symptoms. If unwanted weight loss is noticed, it may be advisable to have this checked out by a doctor. The causes are very diverse and not always is one malignant disease the cause of the weight loss. Also increased energy requirements due to everyday Stressful situations, Infectious diseases, Autoimmune diseases or Metabolic diseases such as a Hyperthyroidism can be causative. For this reason, the unwanted weight loss should be investigated.

causes

Unwanted weight loss can have many causes. The weight loss is due to an increased energy requirement that cannot be adequately covered by the person affected by food intake. This can come about, for example, through increased psychological stress in stressful situations in private or at work, but also through organic diseases. For example, infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV can be associated with unwanted weight loss.

The sick person can also lose weight as part of parasitic diseases. Above all, worm diseases play a role. The worms nest in the intestines and feed on the food they eat. The patient's body can then absorb less nutrients and lose weight.

Read more on this topic at: Worms in the intestines

Another large area are autoimmune diseases, which can lead to increased energy consumption by the body and thus to weight loss. Examples are the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis as well as the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus. Other disturbances in the digestive process, which ultimately lead to a reduced absorption of nutrients, can also be associated with weight loss.

Metabolic diseases can also be the cause of weight loss. Hyperthyroidism, in particular, is a common disease associated with this symptom. The excess of thyroid hormone stimulates all metabolic processes and massively increases the body's metabolic rate. The result is increased energy consumption and thus unwanted weight loss.

Malignant diseases also lead to a massive increase in the body's energy requirements. The uncontrolled dividing cells metabolize a lot of nutrients and thus cause the high energy consumption. This can lead to significant weight loss. Together with fever and night sweats, the unwanted weight loss in this context is also referred to as B symptoms.

Any undesirable weight loss should therefore be clarified by a doctor, as the causes are diverse and depending on the circumstances require specific therapy.

Unintended weight loss from cancer

Cancer (malignant tumor) can lead to unwanted weight loss. Cancer leads to an uncontrolled division of degenerate body cells. Due to the high division rate, these cells require a lot of energy. They get this from the massively increased turnover of nutrients from the blood. This means that other body cells have fewer nutrients available, so that the body has to go to its own fat reserves. This leads to unwanted weight loss over time, which can hardly be compensated for by increased food intake. In addition, cancer patients often suffer from reduced appetite, which further promotes weight loss. The physical emaciation in the context of a tumor disease is also known as tumor cachexia. There are other mechanisms at the cellular level that promote the reduction of the body's own reserves.

However, unwanted weight loss does not occur with every type of cancer. For example, patients with breast or blood cancer are rarely affected, while patients with lung cancer or pancreatic cancer often lose a lot of weight. Pronounced weight loss in the context of cancer is generally associated with a rather poor prognosis. Due to the lack of energy, the patient is weakened, can cope with the therapy more poorly and suffers from side effects more often. The immune system is also weakened and complications are more common. For these reasons, early attempts should be made to increase the caloric intake in cancer patients who experience unwanted weight loss. In the case of pronounced forms, the increased calorie intake is usually of little use, since the energy requirement is too massive, but lighter forms can be countered well by adapting the eating habits.

Unwanted weight loss due to stress

Stress can lead to a significantly increased need for energy, because the body consumes a lot of energy in stressful situations. Stress hormones are released that stimulate the metabolic processes. The body provides the body's cells with many energy substrates that they can quickly metabolize. After a certain period of time, this can lead to weight loss. In addition, many people feel less appetite in stressful situations and therefore eat less. The combination of increased energy requirements and insufficient energy supply then causes the unwanted weight loss. If the stress subsides after a while, the situation usually regulates itself quickly. The body replenishes its energy reserves and the weight normalizes to its original state. Persistent, unwanted weight loss should therefore be clarified by a doctor, as serious illnesses can be hidden behind this symptom.

Read more about this: Stress

Weight loss through / after childbirth

After giving birth, the woman loses weight. This is normal because on the one hand the weight of the baby and the amniotic fluid is lost, on the other hand the placenta is expelled and the uterus contracts again. The woman starts with that Breastfeeding. The mother burns a lot of calories by breastfeeding, as milk production and the breastfeeding process consume a lot of energy. In addition, the body adapts to its original "non-pregnant" state. Previously created fat deposits are slowly broken down again (not least through breastfeeding), stored fluid is excreted. During pregnancy, the blood volume of the pregnant woman has also increased in order to be able to supply the growing uterus and the baby. This now excess blood is also reduced again. All of these processes lead to weight loss.

Sports should not be driven again in the first few weeks after the birth. However, due to the factors mentioned, the woman loses weight naturally, which is around six kilos. Walks with the baby, breastfeeding and normal everyday activity also promote weight loss on their own.

Weight Loss During Pregnancy

Weight loss in the pregnancy absolutely must be observed. Usually the pregnant woman is more likely to gain weight during pregnancy as the baby grows and the woman's body stores fat and fluids. However, some pregnant women gain little weight or keep their weight constant, especially at the beginning of the pregnancy. Few women even lose a few pounds in the beginning. This is not always a cause for concern, but it should always be watched as severe weight loss poses a threat to both mother and child. If the woman's body has too few reserves, the growing baby cannot be adequately cared for and the pregnant woman's body is overworked by the pregnancy and the associated stresses. Child damage, Premature births or maternal health damage can be the result. The pregnant woman should therefore make sure to eat enough and, if possible, not go through phases of hunger.

Pregnancy massively increases the body's energy requirements and this must be met. As long as the unborn child is developing normally and the mother does not show any physical discomfort, weight loss is not always a cause for concern. However, a regular visit to the gynecologist is a prerequisite in order to exclude other causes for the weight loss and to recognize any maternal or child risk at an early stage.

Weight loss from diarrhea

diarrhea can lead to unwanted weight loss, especially if it persists for a long time. With diarrhea the body loses large amounts of fluids, which is usually a large part of the body's weight. In addition, ingested foods are often not tolerated and quickly leave the gastrointestinal tract without being properly metabolized. In this phase, the body therefore quickly draws on its own reserves and after a while begins to break down fat deposits. This mechanism, in combination with the loss of fluid, leads to a more or less pronounced weight loss.

Because the body through the diarrhea too Electrolytes loses, it is important that the patient supplies them again. Are suitable for this Rehydration solutions from the pharmacy or similar solutions that you can produce yourself. You can mix, for example, 5 tablespoons of sugar, 1.5 spoons of table salt, 150ml of orange juice and 150ml of still mineral water. The resulting drink therefore contains the most important electrolytes in sufficient quantities. As soon as the diarrhea subsides and the patient can eat normally again, the weight loss usually balances out quickly. If the weight does not return to normal or if there is more and more weight loss, a doctor should be examined.

How can I calculate a weight loss?

Many people worry about unwanted weight loss. Unwanted weight loss of over 10% of the original body weight within six months is considered pathological. In order to be able to compare your own weight loss with this figure, it must be expressed as a percentage. For example, a person who weighed 70kg and accidentally lost 7kg within six months has lost the equivalent of 10% of their weight.

Invoice: 7kg / 70kg = 0.1

0.1x100 = 10%.

If this patient lost only 4kg, this would be 4kg / 70kg = 0.057; 0.057x100 = 5.7%. This weight loss would not be a cause for concern. Everyday stress, stressful situations, increased physical activity or a change in eating habits cause natural fluctuations in weight.

An unwanted weight loss can also be calculated the other way round. The patient, who previously weighed 70kg and has now lost 7kg, now weighs 63kg.

63kg / 70kg = 0.9

0.9x100 = 90%.

The patient now weighs 90% of his initial weight and, conversely, has lost 10% of his body weight. In this way the weight loss can be calculated and compared with other percentages.