Weight loss
Loss of body weight can occur due to various conditions ranging from undereating, eating disorders, to severe metabolic conditions including diabetes. Infant weight loss is often classed as failure to thrive. For inadequate growth without weight loss see poor growth. Any unexplained weight loss needs prompt professional medical advice for diagnosis and treatment.
Causes:
The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Weight loss. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.
- Various simple reasons for weight loss include:
- Poor diet
- Increase in exercise or exertion
- Dieting
- Starvation
- Neglect
- Anxiety
- Aging
- Not eating enough
- Meal preparation or shopping difficulty - such as in the elderly
- Denture difficulties
- Loss of appetite - see the various causes of loss of appetite
- Athletic training
- Mental health disorders
- Eating disorder
- Anorexia nervosa
- Depression
- Clinical depression
- Grief
- Loss of appetite
- Anxiety
- Certain psychiatric disorders
- Substance-related possible causes of weight loss include:
- Alcohol abuse
- Drug abuse
- Amphetamines - cause appetite suppression leading to weight loss.
- Some possible digestive conditions causing weight loss:
- Chronic digestive infection
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Stomach ulcer
Causes of Types of Weight loss:
Review the causes of these more specific types of Weight loss:
- Thinness
- Failure to thrive
- Growth suppression
- Anorexia
Weight loss and other symptoms:
The cause of Weight loss may be more easily identified if other symptoms exist. Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Weight loss, as listed in our database? When you follow a link to our interactive multiple symptoms page, you will be able to modify your list by adding and removing symptoms thus helping to better research your condition.
Causes of Weight loss:
Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Weight loss as a symptom include:
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
- Cachexia
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia
- Diabetes mellitus type 2
- Glucagonoma
- Hyperemesis gravidarum
- Hyperthyroidism
- Immobility
- Kwashiorkor
- Malabsorption syndrome
- Marasmus
- Orlistat
- Paraneoplastic syndrome
- Phaeochromocytoma
- Renal failure, acute
- Rimonabant
- Starvation (acute)
Causes of General Symptoms:
Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:
- Common symptoms
- Body symptoms
- Weight symptoms
Causes of Similar Symptoms:
Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Weight loss:
- Weight gain
- Appetite loss
- Anorexia
- Hunger
- Undereating
- Food symptoms
- Eating symptoms
Medications or substances:
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Weight loss as a symptom. This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
- Sedatives
- NSAIDs
- Alcohol
- Certain anti-depressants
- Levodopa
Drug interactions:
When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Weight loss as a symptom.
The list below is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
- Coumadin (Warfarin) and Advil (Ibuprofen) interaction
- Coumadin (Warfarin) and Motrin (Ibuprofen) interaction
- Coumadin (Warfarin) and Nuprinl (Ibuprofen) interaction
- Coumadin (Warfarin) and Aleve (Naproxen) interaction
- Coumadin (Warfarin) and Naprosyn (Naproxen) interaction
Calculation of Body Mass Index:
Your BMI is an objective scientific measure that uses your height and weight. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. In other words the algebraic expression for BMI is:
BMI = Kg / (m)2
One variable BMI fails to consider is lean body mass. It is possible for a healthy, muscular individual with very low body fat to be classified obese using the BMI formula. If you are a trained athlete, your weight based on your measured percent body fat would be a better indicator of what you should weigh. To use the program enter your height in meters and weight in kilograms, in the boxes below, and then click “Calculate.” For those unfamiliar with the “MKS” system, listed below are relevant unit conversion factors, and an example of English to metric unit conversion.
| 1 inch = 2.54 cm | 1 meter = 100 cm | 1 lb = 0.45359237 Kg |
For example:
| 5 feet 8 inches = 5 ft (12 in / ft) + 8 in = 68 inches |
| 68 in (2.54 cm / in) = 172.72 cm |
| 172.72 cm (1 meter / 100 cm) = 1.7272 meters |
and
| 139 lbs (0.45359237 Kg / 1 lb) = 63.0493853 Kg |
