Unexplained weight loss

Unexplained weight loss has many causes, medical and nonmedical. Often, a combination of things results in a general decline in your health and a related weight loss. Sometimes a specific cause isn't found.

Usually, an unrecognized cancer will have other symptoms or abnormalities of laboratory tests, in addition to unexplained weight loss

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Losing weight without dieting or increasing physical activity may be due to loss of appetite or when you are consuming the same amount of calories as usual. Either way, it is usually cause for concern.

Potential causes of unexplained weight loss include:

Achalasia - Achalasia affects the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. Achalasia can cause considerable weight loss and malnutrition.

Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency) - This disease occurs when the adrenal cortex is damaged and the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones called cortisol and aldosterone. Unintentional weight loss is one of the symptoms of this ailment.

Cancer - Cancer can go undetected in early stages. All types of cancer may lead to weight loss.

Celiac disease - This is gluten intolerance. It is caused by an immune reaction to gluten. Adults and children may have unexplained weight loss despite having a normal appetite. This may be a symptom of celiac disease.

Changes in diet or appetite. This may also include changes in sense of smell and taste.

Cirrhosis - is a severe scarring and poor function of the liver. This may be due to exposure toxins, alcohol, viral infection and certain types of medication. Unintentional weight loss may be one of the symptoms of this condition.

COPD - COPD refers to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is a long-term lung disease. COPD patients require more energy just to breathe! An individual without lung disease uses about 100 calories a day expanding and contracting the muscles involved with breathing. A person with COPD, however, needs between 430 and 720 calories a day just for the work of breathing.

Crohn's disease - Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).  The intestinal tract includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum, and anus. Maintaining healthy body weight is one of the bigger challenges of life with Crohn’s disease.

Dementia - During the later stages of dementia most people will become increasingly frail due to the progression of the illness.

Dental problems - There will be difficulty in eating certain types of food.

Depression - It changes the eating and sleeping patterns in many patients.

Diabetic hypoglycemia - When you have uncontrolled blood sugar, you may gain or lose weight. Weight gain is more common with hypoglycemia, as the only treatment for hypoglycemia is to eat.

Heart failure - Heart failure is often associated with rapid changes in weight. These can indicate changes in your condition and so need to be monitored carefully. Losing a lot of weight unintentionally over a short space of time can be serious.

HIV/AIDS - This is a life-threatening disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. 

Hodgkin’s disease - This is a form of  lymphoma, which is a blood cancer that starts in the lymphatic system.

Hookworms - These affect the lungs and small intestine. A person with a heavy infection may experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue and anemia. 

Hypercalcemia - Hypercalcemia is a condition in which the calcium level in your blood is above normal. Too much calcium in your blood can weaken your bones, create kidney stones, and interfere with the way your heart and brain works. Unintended weight loss may be one of the symptoms of this condition.

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) - The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck below your Adam’s apple. It produces tetraiodothyronine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), two hormones which control how your cells use energy. The process by which cells use energy is called metabolism.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) - The throid glands do not produce adequate amount of T3 and T4.

Kidney disease - Deterioration in kidney function can result in loss of weight.

Lukemia - Cancer in the blood cells 

Medications – such as diet pills.

Nutritional deficiency or Malnutrition occurs when the body is not able to absorb the required amount of nutrition from the daily food intake.

Parkinson's disease - Weight loss is frequent in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Peptic ulcer - These are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach, esophagus, and small intestine. This may be due to erosion from stomach acids. In severe cases the symptoms will include weight loss.

Substance abuse (alcohol, cocaine, other) - Sudden weight loss or weight gain may be a physical warning signs of drug abuse.

Tuberculosis - It is an infectious disease affecting the lungs. It shows symptoms of severe and long-lasting cough, fever and night sweats. Weight loss is one of the symptoms of this ailment.

Ulcerative colitis - People with these serious conditions can lose weight during a flare-up and gain it all back.