Unusual Weight Loss
With the obesity rates surging throughout the nation, most people dream of weighing less than they currently do. Imagine if there were a pill you could take that would make you lose those extra pounds without any effort. Or better, suppose you could just lose weight by yourself, without doing anything at all. That might seem great at first, but most likely the underlying cause for your unusual weight loss is not something to celebrate.
Unusual Weight Loss
The website Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Health and the National Institutes of Health, says this about unusual weight loss: "Unintentional weight loss is a decrease in body weight that is not voluntary. In other words, you did not try to lose the weight by dieting or exercising." According to the Resident & Staff Physician, "clinically significant weight loss can be defined as a loss of 10 lb. (4.5 kg) or more of usual body weight in a period of 6 months or less."
Reasons
There are many reasons why you might suddenly lose weight without trying. The New York Times' Health Guide lists 14: AIDS; cancer; depression; diarrhea that is chronic (lasts a long time); drugs, including amphetamines, chemotherapy drugs, laxatives (when abused) and thyroid medications; drug abuse; eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia; hyperthyroidism; infection; loss of appetite; malnutrition; manipulative behavior (in children); painful mouth sores, mouth braces or a loss of teeth that prevent you from eating normally; and smoking. There are potentially additional reasons not listed here.
Population Most at Risk
While unusual weight loss may happen to anyone, the population to whom it happens most frequently is the very old. A recent article in "Resident & Staff Physician" says that unintentional weight loss occurs in up to 10 percent of adult outpatients, 13 percent of elderly outpatients and 50 to 65 percent of nursing home patients. The article also points out that "[s]ignificant weight loss usually involves serious underlying medical or psychiatric problems, so a thorough evaluation to determine its cause is required." In other words, depression and stress are huge factors.
Misconceptions
There are times in our lives when we may lose weight without actively trying. For example, after a pregnant woman gives birth to her child, she may start losing lots of weight without going on a diet or exercising. The reasons are twofold. Her body is working hard to produce milk and then breastfeed. Also, the body is always striving toward its most typical, most comfortable weight, which means she may lose the "baby" weight without effort. People who engage in excessive eating during a prolonged period of time, say the holidays, will often lose the weight they gained when they return to their normal, healthier eating habits for the very same reason.
Prevention
Practicing a balanced lifestyle in every area is crucial to preventing unusual weight loss. These areas include exercising most days of the week, eating a healthy diet, sleeping 8 hours a day, taking vacations, scheduling time for fun and spending time with loved ones. If you work 12 to 15 hours 7 days a week, you are almost guaranteed to become depressed and/or stressed out, which may lead to weight loss.
For help with an inadequate diet, visit a licensed nutritionist. Visit your doctor if you feel you are leading a healthy lifestyle but are still losing weight.
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