Why the sudden weight loss? Why does a person suddenly lose weight?

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Weight loss is usually a desirable process in the presence of excess body weight. Most often, losing kilograms occurs with increased physical activity or diet. However, after eliminating these causes, the weight quickly returns to normal. Therefore, sudden sudden weight loss, the reasons for which are unknown, is a cause for serious concern. In this case, you need to seek help from specialists.

Reasons for sudden weight loss

Sudden weight loss is called wasting or cachexia. Most often, weight loss occurs as a result of poor or insufficient nutrition, impaired absorption of food, in the case of increased breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the body or increased energy consumption. In addition, sudden weight loss with a good appetite and abundant nutrition is very often the cause of the disease. The following factors can lead to significant weight loss:

  • Limiting food intake. Occurs as a result of impaired consciousness due to traumatic brain injury, stroke or the presence of a tumor, narrowing of the larynx, esophagus, decreased appetite, anorexia nervosa or intoxication;
  • Indigestion. Occurs with atrophic gastritis, peptic ulcer, hepatitis, pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis, enteritis, colitis. Accompanied by problems with absorption of nutrients and digestion of proteins and fats;
  • Metabolic disorder. In this case, the body experiences a predominance of destruction processes (catabolism) over synthesis processes. The causes are severe injuries, burns, malignant tumors, problems with the thyroid gland, and connective tissue diseases.

The most common reason for weight loss is stress associated with emotional experiences. Psychological trauma can cause severe weight loss, although the body may be generally healthy. Usually in this case, after some time the weight returns to normal. Also, loss of kilograms occurs in the presence of mental disorders as a result of lack of appetite.

A common cause of sudden weight loss, especially in children, is helminthic infestation. In this case, there is a decrease in appetite, diarrhea or constipation, signs of intoxication, and general fatigue. Typically, such diseases are caused by failure to comply with personal hygiene rules and eating poorly washed vegetables and fruits.

Reasons for losing weight in women

There are many reasons for women losing weight. If you experience a loss of five percent or more of your body weight in a short period of time, you should immediately consult a specialist. Sudden weight loss is almost always accompanied by disturbances in the nervous and cardiovascular systems; there is a water-salt imbalance in the body and disruptions in thermoregulation.

Sometimes sudden weight loss occurs when there is an energy deficiency. The reasons for its appearance are taking diet pills or long-term dieting. A poorly balanced diet causes malfunctions in the body. Irregular diet can also be a reason for weight loss in women. That is, the body lacks vital substances, so it uses its own reserves.

It should be remembered that any low-calorie diet is useful only for a short period of time. If you constantly follow it, your body will run out of energy reserves of vitamins, microelements and other useful substances. As a result, diseases of the digestive system may develop. In particular, gastritis and pancreatitis are frequent companions of lovers of various diets.

When gastric juice is produced and food is not supplied in sufficient quantities, the enzymes secreted by the pancreas are involved in the process of self-digestion. This releases toxins that damage the kidneys, liver, lungs, brain and other organs. Therefore, on fasting days it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids, while avoiding sour drinks, coffee and strong tea.

It is worth noting that gastrointestinal diseases are often the causes of weight loss in both women and men. This may be a violation of the patency of the digestive canal, various inflammatory processes, impaired absorption in the stomach and small intestine. In acute or chronic inflammation, metabolic disorders (catabolism) are observed and the body's need for energy increases. And nausea, vomiting and diarrhea lead to losses of proteins, electrolytes and microelements.

Diabetes mellitus causes significant weight loss even with increased appetite. With this disease, there is a violation of all types of metabolism, primarily carbohydrate metabolism. Symptoms of the disease are thirst, frequent urination, dry skin and progressive weight loss, abdominal pain.

Also, the reasons for weight loss in women are often an imbalance of female hormones (although in this case, in this case, extra pounds are most often gained), postpartum depression, and breastfeeding.

Reasons for losing weight in men

Quite often, the reasons for weight loss in men, as well as in women, can be hormonal imbalances and thyroid function. If there are problems with the endocrine system (Graves' disease, dysfunction of the adrenal glands), a sharp acceleration of metabolism occurs. The release of hormones in these diseases increases the metabolic rate. Calories from food are burned faster. That is, when the same amount of nutrients enters the body, their use by the body increases. This leads to a negative balance and, as a result, to sudden weight loss.

Other reasons for sudden weight loss in men and women are cancer. Almost always, in the presence of malignant tumors of the liver, pancreas and intestines, rapid weight loss occurs. Malignant neoplasms cause disturbances in biochemical processes, which lead to depletion of internal resources. There is general weakness of the body, decreased performance, and lack of appetite. In many cancer patients, cancer cachexia is the cause of death.

The causes of sudden weight loss in men can also be diseases of the hematopoietic organs, radiation damage, neurological pathologies, destruction (decay) of their own tissues. Sometimes it can be difficult to identify the specific cause of rapid weight loss, especially in the absence of additional symptoms. Therefore, if there is a progressive loss of body weight, you must consult a specialist in order to establish the cause in time and begin treatment.

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Comments on the material (79):

1 2 3 4

I quote Natalia:

Hello. I am 30 years old, my weight was 45, my height is 164, now I weigh 39 and my height has become 159. I tested everything, everything was fine, my doctor told me, my therapist, what else can I help you with? Gallstones, could it be that I’m losing weight because I have stones, but nothing hurts?


Hello, Natalia.
No, this cannot happen due to gallstones.

I quote Marina:



Hello.
If you feel well and your tests are normal, you do not need to see any doctor. Your weight loss is not critical, most likely this is a consequence of hormonal changes - some women gain weight during menopause, some lose it. This is not a pathology.

I quote Nadezhda doctor:

I quote Marina:

Hello, I’m 51 years old (I haven’t had my period for 1.5 years), I weighed 68 kg, and in the summer I lost weight to 62 kg. I used to gain weight in the winter, but for some reason this didn’t happen. My appetite is good, nothing hurts.
FLG everything is clean. sugar - 5, 5. hemoglobin - 142.5, leukocytes - 9.8, COE - 18, no sugar in urine. What's wrong with me? Which doctor should I contact? Skin and bones, somehow no fat layer


Hello.
If you feel well and your tests are normal, you do not need to see any doctor. Your weight loss is not critical, most likely this is a consequence of hormonal changes - some women gain weight during menopause, some lose it. This is not a pathology.

Thanks for the answer!!!

I quote Svetlana:


Hello.
Of course, you definitely need to visit a gastroenterologist.

I quote Nadezhda doctor:

I quote Svetlana:

Hello! My husband has lost a lot of weight over the past year... 15 kg, and he’s already terribly thin. He is 28. He was examined by an endocrinologist, they said everything was fine. The appetite is good, but he can go to the toilet (sorry for the details) for “big things” three times a day. The feeling that food is not retained in his body.. What could this be? Maybe it's worth visiting a gastroenterologist?


Hello.
Of course, you definitely need to visit a gastroenterologist.

Thank you!

I quote Vovan:

In September, my wife underwent surgery to remove a hernia of the linea alba. They told me not to eat fatty or fried foods. Well, he only eats commercial, steamed and lean food, not fatty. Well, that's where it started! I lost 17 kg from September to December 31st. Constantly low pressure (90 to 60), low temperature (it never goes above 36.2, maybe 35). He suffers from dizziness, becomes weak, and has no appetite. I went through all the examinations (for a fee), the doctors shrug their shoulders... ESR 25, tumor markers are normal.


Vovan, in your case it’s difficult to talk about losing weight without a reason - there is a reason, a diet. It also matters what your weight was before starting the diet. If your health worsens and your weight decreases critically, then it is advisable to repeat the examination after 1-2 months. If your health stabilizes and your weight is within the physiological norm, then you don’t have to worry.

I quote Sergei:

Hello. I am 20 years old and I began to lose weight. Six months ago I weighed 68 kg, 2 months ago 63, and now my cheekbones, elbows, even my arms have become very pronounced and even thinner (I continue to noticeably lose weight, I can’t weigh myself now). I have a pancreatic disease (chronic pancreatitis), but I am on pills (pancreatin). Pancreatic disease began to appear after diclofenac injections.
Related.
There is also perinatal toxic-hypoxic damage to the nervous system, which has now resulted in residual (perinatal, toxic) encephalopathy with liquor-hypertensive syndrome, persistent cephalgia, vestibulopathy, art. decompensation. MRI of the brain shows signs of a single lesion with a higher probability of vascular character, but demyelination cannot be excluded.

I described it in detail, I hope it will help you understand the situation. Tell me what should I do?
P.S. Our doctors can’t explain it, they blame it on pancreatitis.


I quote Sergei:

I apologize for the second comment, I forgot to add. The temperature in the evening rises to max. marks at 37.5, subsides around 12 at night and so on every day.

Good afternoon, Sergey.
I agree with the doctors who blame it on pancreatitis, this is most likely the reason. Encephalopathy, of course, is a serious pathology, but it is unlikely to be responsible for the onset of weight loss. It is advisable to undergo a gastroenterological examination; pancreatin may be low in such a situation; anti-inflammatory therapy may be required.

To quote Nicole:

Hello. I am 20 years old, in recent months I have lost 12 kg, but I have very severe headaches and pain in the eyes, dizziness, darkening in the eyes or white spots that are appearing more and more often. I have a good appetite, I don’t drink or smoke. Now, with a height of 157, I barely reach 45 kg.


Check your thyroid hormones

I quote Mikhail 777:

Hello. Please tell me what kind of illness is happening... I was examined by a gastroenterologist and was diagnosed with chronic gastritis. I underwent a course of treatment with medications and diets - my condition seemed to return to normal. Now another situation has arisen: I wake up from aching pain in the lower abdomen on the left side. There is weight loss, although the diet is normal and with a lot of carbohydrates, but it is not possible to gain weight. The stool alternates from normal to mushy... The main reason for coming here is aching pain in the lower abdomen on the left side, plus a mild headache and poor sleep... Tell me what it could be...


Hello, Mikhail.
All we can do to help you is to provide information about the possible causes of weight loss, they are listed in the article. Everything else you should find out by contacting your doctor.

1 2 3 4

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Sudden weight loss (emaciation) in the medical literature is referred to as “cachexia.” The immediate causes of exhaustion are accelerated catabolism and impaired absorption of lipid, carbohydrate and protein compounds.

Important:A good reason to seek help from specialists is losing 5% of weight in a short time!

Reasons for sudden weight loss in men

It is safe to say that most of the factors that contribute to rapid weight loss are common to men and women.

Reasons for sudden weight loss in men include:

Important:Diseases of infectious origin that cause cachexia include, in particular.

Nowadays, many men are subject to frequent emotional stress. Stressful situations lead to sudden weight loss in most representatives of the stronger sex.

In addition to sudden weight loss, stress causes:

  • sleep disturbance();
  • rapid physical and mental fatigue;
  • irritability.

In some cases, men find it difficult to cope with stress and need the help of an experienced psychotherapist, but many are embarrassed to see a doctor. Over time, the situation becomes more and more aggravated, which can lead to serious metabolic disorders, the development of a number of diseases or exacerbation of existing chronic pathologies.

Often, sudden weight loss in men is caused by dysfunction of the internal secretion organs (hormonal pathologies).

Diseases of the thyroid gland (in particular -) can cause an acceleration of metabolism, i.e. excessively rapid burning of calories supplied through the diet. In such cases, sudden weight loss develops even against the background of a sedentary lifestyle and consumption of high-calorie foods.

Signs of increased levels of thyroid hormones (a characteristic sign of hyperthyroidism) are:

  • rapid weight loss (10 kg or more) with increased appetite;
  • (excessive sweating even in a cool room);
  • constant tachycardia (up to 140 beats/min.);
  • trembling fingers;
  • increased nervous excitability;
  • irritability;
  • sleep disorders;
  • sexual dysfunction (decreased libido and).

If such symptoms appear, you should urgently seek help from an endocrinologist. The sooner adequate treatment is started, the sooner recovery can be achieved.

The cause of sudden weight loss can also be such a serious and insidious disease as.

Symptoms of the pathology are:

  • weight loss accompanied by a significant increase in appetite;
  • constant feeling of thirst;
  • the smell of acetone from the patient’s mouth;
  • (not always).

If one or more symptoms appear, it is recommended not to delay your visit to the doctor; first you need to take a test. Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment of the disease.

Another reason for sudden weight loss is... It is believed that helminthic infestations occur mainly in children. This is not entirely true. Infection is possible not only if personal hygiene rules are not followed, but also by consuming meat or fish that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment. Men often eat poorly fried foods while relaxing in nature.

Clinical signs of helminthiasis:

Please note:In men, worms can cause early baldness.

Unfortunately, in some cases, sudden weight loss is caused by much more serious reasons - in particular, cancer of the digestive system. With malignant neoplasms, significant weight loss in a short period of time may be one of the first symptoms. If there are no other visible causes of cachexia, it is strongly recommended to undergo examination by an oncologist. It is possible that this will help to identify a tumor in the initial stages of development and begin complex therapy in a timely manner.

Cachexia is very typical for people suffering from chronic. Women are also susceptible to the disease, but it is more common among men. A harmful addiction to alcohol causes damage to the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Alcohol abuse disrupts the absorption of nutrients in the intestines, which causes sudden weight loss even with a normal diet. In addition, during periods of heavy drinking, patients eat very little or refuse food altogether, which leads to rapid exhaustion.

Severe thinness is a characteristic external feature of patients suffering from tuberculosis. An active process is characterized by sudden weight loss.

Rapid weight loss is often caused by opportunistic infections.

Reasons for sudden weight loss in women

Women suffer from stress no less than men. Against the background of psycho-emotional stress, representatives of the fair sex often develop. This nervous disorder is also characterized by loss of appetite, leading to sudden weight loss.

A common cause of exhaustion is a disorder characteristic of women -. Young girls who believe (often completely unfoundedly) that they are overweight are more susceptible to it. Patients refuse to eat, and if they are forced to eat, they artificially induce vomiting. Over time, the obsession with losing weight leads to the formation of an aversion to food. Anorexia often causes irreversible disorders in the body, which may well cause death.

Symptoms of tuberculosis are weakness, loss of strength, drowsiness, sudden weight loss and coughing attacks not associated with respiratory diseases. If there has been contact with a carrier of the infection and similar clinical signs appear, you should immediately contact a therapist and phthisiatrician and do

Are you losing weight for no apparent reason and don’t understand what’s causing it? In this article, we will look at the most common causes of weight loss, and also figure out which doctor you need to see.

Sudden weight loss as a symptom

Often, losing weight is a conscious choice - we change our diet and increase physical activity in order to get rid of extra pounds and be healthier. In this case, even relatively sudden weight loss is normal.

On the other hand, some people lose weight precisely when they are faced with a serious illness. With the development of the most severe diseases, one or more other symptoms appear that appear even before losing a kilogram. In this situation, the reasons for sudden weight loss are understandable and even expected.

Sometimes it happens that the first symptom of the development of a serious illness is precisely the loss of kilograms. Other symptoms in this case appear a little later. Below we look at the most common diseases for which weight loss May be the first symptom. Remember that all of the following violations are not related to your planned weight loss.

What diseases cause weight loss?

Possible causes of unexplained weight loss include:

Oncological diseases

In the vast majority of cases, the patient will develop other symptoms before losing weight. They can be very different, depending on the type and location of the malignant process. Sometimes sudden weight loss due to cancer is the first symptom that a person notices.

Why do people lose weight with cancer? Weight loss in this case is partly due to increased activity of cancer cells that require nutrition. In later stages of the disease, weight comes off due to a combination of various factors.

Weight loss with diabetes

Often unexpected weight loss is a sign. In people with this disease, the hormone insulin is unable to force cells to use glucose as an energy source. When this happens, the body “burns” fat and muscle tissue, thus obtaining the necessary energy. This partly explains why sudden weight loss occurs in diabetes.

Hyperthyroidism

In this disorder, the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. An excess of this substance causes an increase in metabolic processes (“accelerated” metabolism). Symptoms of this disorder are:

  • Anxiety, nervousness, anxiety,
  • Increased emotionality
  • Irritability,
  • Feeling of a strong heartbeat
  • Trembling in the hands (tremor),
  • Diarrhea.

Why does a person suddenly lose weight even despite a very good appetite? This can be explained by increased energy expenditure due to nervousness, anxiety and constant “running around”. All of these are possible signs of hyperthyroidism, which you will read about in.

Presence of chronic infection or inflammatory process

Typically, with a chronic infection, a person experiences not only weight loss, but also other symptoms. Although with some infections, such as tuberculosis or, the first visible symptom is sudden weight loss.

In some conditions, an inflammatory process occurs in one or more parts of the body. Again, in this case the person will encounter other symptoms. But with some inflammatory disorders, such as polymyalgia rheumatica, the first symptoms may be poor health and sudden weight loss.

Malabsorption syndromes

There are many diseases that affect the absorption of food in the intestines. They usually cause symptoms such as diarrhea. In some patients, the first noticeable sign of malabsorption syndrome is weight loss. Among food absorption disorders, celiac disease (celiac disease) and peptic ulcer are noted.

Dementia (decreased mental capacity)

In the early stages of dementia, people may feel well, but they may not actually be able to look after themselves well. They cannot create and adhere to a normal diet on their own, which is why they eat poorly and subsequently lose weight.

Causes of weight loss also include:

  • Disease ,
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
  • Heart and kidney diseases,
  • Hypercalcemia (increased levels of calcium in the blood),
  • Parkinson's disease

Other causes of weight loss

Sometimes weight loss is not directly related to diseases, but is a consequence of taking certain substances or a person’s psychological state.

Eating disorders

Reasons for losing weight may include some conditions that are a result of lack of body image. With a disorder such as anorexia, a person strictly controls his diet and actively tries to get rid of what he thinks are extra pounds. People suffering from anorexia are severely underweight. This is a dangerous condition, which in most cases requires the intervention of not only clinical, but also other doctors.

Side effects of taking medications

Sometimes taking medications causes side effects that lead to weight loss. Some drugs cause loss of appetite and dry mouth, and some cause heartburn or mild diarrhea. There are also medications that affect taste and smell. Any of these side effects can lead to a decrease in caloric intake and sudden weight loss.

Depression

With this condition, people very often lose their appetite and do not want to eat, which ultimately leads to weight loss. In addition, there is such a thing as nervous weight loss. If a person often faces stressful events and is constantly nervous, he may also lose pounds.

Alcohol abuse / alcohol addiction

Many people with alcohol addiction eat poorly and lose weight without realizing it. In this case, only relatives or friends can notice the changes.

What should you do if you experience sudden weight loss?

If you or your family for some unexplained reason started losing pounds, consult with. American experts recommend sounding the alarm if over the past 6-12 months a person, for an unexplained reason, has lost more than 5% of his total body weight. If the patient is an adult and has one or more serious illnesses, even a few lost pounds is a reason to go to the doctor.

At the appointment, the specialist will analyze your medical history and also conduct a thorough physical examination. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe other diagnostic procedures.

In this article, we looked at what diseases cause weight loss and which doctors you need to contact to find the root cause. Although, in most cases, the cause of weight loss or problems with weight gain is simple malnutrition. If a person eats a lot and cannot gain weight, there is no need to look for hidden reasons. The best option is to get professional advice from.

Sources:

  1. Unexplained weight loss, Mayo Clinic,
  2. Unexplained Weight Loss, Diabetes.co.uk,
  3. Unintentional weight loss, NHS,
  4. Weight Loss (Unintentional), Patient.org.

Many people dream of losing excess weight so they can fit into their favorite jeans or feel free to wear a swimsuit. Losing weight is often a goal for many women. But weight loss, however, can also be a symptom of many diseases. Therefore, if you notice that you are quickly losing weight for no apparent reason, be careful.

Sometimes a person loses weight without wanting it, and wonders: “why am I losing weight for no reason?” Weight loss that is not the result of your efforts (diet, exercise) is an undesirable condition. We are talking about a situation where weight decreases significantly as a result of a lack of nutrients in the body.

Deficiency of nutrients occurs due to poor nutrition or increased energy needs of the body for various reasons, such as intense physical activity, illness, injury, surgery, stress and much more.

Types of weight loss

The main reason why a person loses weight is due to insufficient nutrient intake. This applies to protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and microelements. Based on the above, weight loss can be divided into several types:

  • Weight loss from lack of energy and protein. In this case, the body turns to the reserve, if there is one. The first step is to use fat reserves. If the weight loss process drags on, the body will begin to use proteins. In extreme cases, with uncontrolled weight loss, it can lead to loss of muscle mass. In addition to using up reserves, the body simultaneously decreases its basic energy needs, which over time reduces them to a minimum (this is the main reason why losing weight on purpose and consciously is not so easy). The man looks unhealthily thin. Such weight loss can be caused by hunger strike, lack of appetite, poor nutrition, indigestion;
  • Weight loss with sufficient energy intake, but insufficient protein (especially those containing the so-called essential amino acids, which the body cannot produce itself). This type of weight loss can occur if the body has an increased demand for protein intake. We are talking about a condition caused by multiple injuries (car accident, fall), burns, bedsores;
  • Thinness caused by lack of protein. Of course, this fact is a direct threat to the developing organism, especially in young children. Therefore, it is important to monitor your diet and ensure proper intake of nutrients. People who eat insufficient protein may appear normal at first glance, but are critically ill inside.

Etiology of weight loss

Undesirable weight loss is inherent in many pathological conditions:

  1. 1. Psychiatric diagnosis. This may include depression, bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder, and various types of dementia. If a person is sick, he automatically reduces the amount of food he eats, suffers from loss of appetite, or simply forgets to eat. Eating disorders represent a separate category of causes of weight loss. The most striking weight loss is accompanied by anorexia, as well as bulimia. Although weight loss in such cases is desirable, it is caused by a certain disease that can lead to serious health problems or even death.
  2. 2. Tumor diseases. It is a known fact that people with cancer lose weight quickly and greatly. Tumor cells are very active and consume more nutrients than healthy tissue cells. Cancer also activates many substances that are involved in metabolism, the functioning of the hormonal and nervous systems. This can lead to the rapid destruction of fat deposits and muscle structures, and on the other hand, it weakens appetite and increases the feeling of satiety. The result of this is not only significant weight loss, but also excruciating suffering for the patient.
  3. 3. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This could be a tumor or inflammatory process that reduces the intestines' ability to absorb nutrients. Such processes are most often accompanied by vomiting or prolonged diarrhea. Diseases that cause a person to lose weight sharply include ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, gastrointestinal cancer, and Crohn's disease. There are also diseases that cause food industry shortages. These are diseases of the liver, gall bladder and pancreas. Do not forget about disorders in the oral cavity, pain and problems with teeth, and swallowing disorders.
  4. 4. Functional disorders of the endocrine glands. The thyroid gland and its increased functionality are often mentioned here. People lose weight as a result of a fast metabolism. Characteristic features of hyperthyroidism may include restlessness, rapid heartbeat, trembling, and profuse sweating. A person loses a lot of kilograms, despite the amount of food consumed. The process of losing weight can also be caused by dysfunction of the adrenal glands.
  5. 5. Diabetes of both types. In addition to involuntary weight loss, doctors and therapists strongly recommend losing a few kilograms. This will significantly reduce the dose of insulin, and sometimes completely cure. Losing weight must be done under the supervision of a specialist. Frequent urination and thirst may also indicate diabetes.
  6. 6. Multiple organ failure. This applies to dysfunction of the liver, kidneys or heart. In addition, a disease such as obstructive pulmonary disease is accompanied by weight loss.
  7. 7. Infectious diseases. As with tumor diseases, the immune system is activated, and a feeling of satiety appears. During a long period of illness, even with minor symptoms, a person may suddenly begin to lose weight. Significant weight loss is typical of AIDS or tuberculosis.
  8. 8. Inflammatory, allergic and autoimmune diseases can also be accompanied by abnormal weight loss. Common symptoms include nausea, nonspecific abdominal pain, impaired absorption of nutrients, and increased temperature, which leads to an acceleration of metabolism. A person who has lost weight is in a negative energy balance.
  9. 9. Excessive use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Buerger's disease, caused by blockage of blood vessels due to tobacco abuse, leads to weight loss in the limbs. Legs and arms lose weight due to atrophy of subcutaneous fat.

Most often, the reason for weight loss is discovered by chance during a medical examination.

Risk group

Weight loss may also be accompanied by other symptoms: weakness, fatigue, mood swings, lack of appetite, inability to swallow, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. In some cases, a person may experience symptoms such as pain, fever. To complete the picture, it should be noted which category of people is at risk of weight loss:

Anorexia nervosa in girls is a disease of modern society

Necessary examinations

Remember that you should not engage in self-diagnosis and self-medication. For a correct diagnosis, you should contact a qualified specialist. To do this, it is necessary to conduct a number of studies:

  • blood tests for hematocrit, hemoglobin, c-reactive protein, which reflects inflammatory processes. To this should be added urine and stool analysis;
  • Ultrasound of the necessary organs, gastroscopy, colonoscopy in case of suspicion that the cause of weight loss is in the digestive tract;
  • It is also desirable to add targeted screening of the kidneys, heart, and lungs;
  • do not forget about possible mental disorders. A psychiatric examination will help to understand this issue.

Everyone can experience weight loss for various reasons. If you experience nausea, fatigue, weakness and poor health with weight loss, do not hesitate to visit a doctor for an objective assessment of the current situation.

Many people would like to get rid of excess weight. However, sudden weight loss cannot be considered normal; the reasons for weight loss in men can be different. This is not always associated with food restrictions; often a person eats well, but quickly loses kilograms.

Eating disorders

Most often, weight loss occurs due to severe food restrictions. For example, an overweight man went on a strict diet. In this case, the greatest weight loss occurs in the first weeks and months of reducing caloric intake. Fluid leaves the body and weight drops sharply. This is a natural phenomenon. In the future, the weight loss process will stabilize. You need to ensure that weight loss in the first month of the diet does not exceed 5-6 kg.

If you are obese, you should avoid the following diets:

  • complete fasting;
  • raw food diet;
  • color diet (eating food of the same color);
  • taking medications to reduce appetite;
  • complete refusal of salt, sugar, proteins, fats or carbohydrates.

Such a diet can lead to serious metabolic disorders. Muscle weakness, deterioration of bones, nails and hair, mental depression, and digestive problems occur. In addition, aesthetic problems appear: stretch marks, sagging skin, which is difficult to get rid of on your own and you have to resort to plastic surgery. Therefore, even with severe obesity, the diet should be complete and weight loss should be gradual.

Losing weight due to stress

Often losing weight is associated with psycho-emotional stress. In such cases, people wonder why I am losing weight for no reason while eating normally. Weight loss during stress is associated with increased production of hormones: cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine. These substances affect the hunger center, resulting in a sharp decrease in appetite. Therefore, a depressed man does not feel like eating at all.

In addition, adrenal hormones lead to rapid fat burning. When stressed, the body loses energy potential and begins to replenish calories from its own resources. As a result, a person loses weight even with adequate nutrition.

The following symptoms of chronic psycho-emotional stress can be identified:

  • poor sleep;
  • irritability;
  • headaches;
  • fatigue;
  • low mood.

It must be remembered that during mental stress, the body draws energy reserves from fat and muscle tissue. Such weight loss is not only characterized by a decrease in body weight, but also by sagging and muscle weakness. Stress hormones neutralize testosterone production. Therefore, if symptoms of psycho-emotional stress occur, you should consult a psychotherapist.

The culprit of sudden weight loss is stress

Smoking and alcohol

The reasons for weight loss in men may be due to addiction to bad habits. In such cases, body weight is not lost immediately. This happens in smokers and experienced alcoholics, when not only psychological but also physical dependence is formed.

At first, a drinker may even gain weight. This is due to the high calorie content of alcoholic beverages. Drinking wine and vodka can stimulate appetite. But as a chemical dependence on alcohol develops, ethanol is integrated into the metabolism. Alcohol affects the metabolism of fats, the body becomes dehydrated and stops absorbing nutrients. Men suffering from stage 2 alcoholism experience a strong decrease in body weight.

As for smoking, a cigarette creates a false feeling of fullness. As a result, the man begins to eat less food. Nicotine negatively affects the digestive system, which is why the body receives few calories and nutrients. Smoking leads to oxygen starvation, which slows down the process of fat deposition. All this can trigger rapid weight loss.

Often men do not give up smoking because they are afraid of gaining excess body weight. But nicotine cannot be a means of combating excess weight. Usually, after giving up a bad habit, a person gains no more than 3-4 kg per year. This is due to the fact that the metabolism has been disrupted by constant consumption of nicotine. With proper nutrition and an active lifestyle, significant weight gain does not occur.

Helminth infestation

  • stomach ache;
  • irregular bowel movements;
  • flatulence;
  • constant feeling of fatigue;
  • drowsiness;
  • baldness;
  • rash on the body caused by an allergy to waste products of helminths.

Endocrine disorders

An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) is accompanied by weight loss. The intensive work of this organ leads to rapid fat burning. At the same time, there is an increased appetite, and others do not understand why a person loses weight by eating a lot of food. Nervousness is one of the symptoms of this disease, and sometimes it seems that a man is eating stress. Other signs of hyperthyroidism can be identified:

  • feeling of heat;
  • increased body temperature;
  • bulging eyes (exophthalmos);
  • goiter in the Adam's apple area;
  • rapid heartbeat;
  • red spots on the face;
  • frequent urination;
  • potency disorders.

If weight loss is accompanied by such symptoms, then you need to contact an endocrinologist and take a blood test for thyroid hormones.

In diabetes mellitus, weight gain is most often observed. But in 20% of cases, weight loss occurs. A man can lose up to 20 kg in 1-1.5 months. Due to insulin deficiency, the body receives little energy and begins to use fat tissue.

Diabetes is accompanied by symptoms such as a feeling of thirst, the smell of acetone from the mouth, itchy skin, and sudden loss of consciousness. If such signs occur, you must contact an endocrinologist and take a glucose test. At the initial stage of the disease, weight loss may be the only manifestation.

Digestive diseases

Weight loss is often associated with gastroenterological pathologies. With gastritis, stomach ulcers, cholecystitis, sudden weight loss may occur. This is due to the following reasons:

  1. Due to inflammation, the epithelium of the digestive organs cannot cope with its task. Food is not digested and the body does not receive nutrients.
  2. Diseases of the digestive system are often accompanied by repeated vomiting, which leads to exhaustion of the body.
  3. Due to severe abdominal pain, appetite decreases and a person cannot eat properly.

It is necessary to contact a gastroenterologist. The doctor will prescribe a gentle diet that will provide the body with all the necessary substances.

In addition, diseases of the digestive system can be accompanied by other ailments: diabetes, tumors, hyperthyroidism, which also lead to weight loss.

Typically, a person loses weight due to advanced diseases of the digestive system. But sometimes weight loss occurs in the early stages of the disease. The man does not yet feel severe pain in the epigastric region, but discomfort in the stomach leads to loss of appetite. A slight but constant decrease in body weight may be a sign of gastric pathologies.

Oncological diseases

With malignant tumors, sudden weight loss is usually observed at stage 3 of the disease. New growths take nutrients from the body. The immune system has to work in enhanced mode to restore the lost functions of organs and systems. Cancer patients often experience exhaustion and painful thinness, even with adequate nutrition.

Tumors of the esophagus and stomach interfere with normal food intake. The person is forced to eat little and loses weight. Psychological reasons also contribute to weight loss. Upon learning of a serious diagnosis, a person falls into a depressive state, which is accompanied by a decrease in appetite.

However, weight loss does not always occur in the later stages of the disease. Sometimes weight loss is the first sign of oncological pathology. For example, in the early stages of lung, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer, causeless weight loss may be the only symptom of the disease. Tumors of these organs secrete substances that disrupt metabolism, and weight loss is associated with this. After the tumors are removed, the person gains weight again.

Therefore, a man who is worried about the question of why am I losing weight for no reason needs to visit a doctor and undergo an examination. This is necessary for early detection of pathology. In the early stages, cancer is much easier to treat. The reasons for weight loss can be far from harmless.

Infectious diseases

Significant weight loss is observed with pulmonary tuberculosis. This disease leads to a sharp decrease in appetite. In addition, the body is subjected to severe intoxication, which affects metabolism. Weight is lost quickly, up to 10-15 kg in a short time.

Weight loss also occurs with other infectious diseases: brucellosis, amebiasis, mononucleosis, HIV infection, and E. coli infection. Therefore, if you lose weight suddenly, you may need to consult an infectious disease specialist.

Conclusion

If a man notices that his weight is dropping sharply, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination of the body. And only if the results of all tests are normal, we can conclude that weight loss is associated with poor diet or stress. In this case, a high-calorie diet and lifestyle changes will be required.



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