Sudden Weight Loss Causes

Unintentional sudden weight loss can be due to underlying health conditions, know the common causes of weight loss.

Many people consider weight loss a boon, but it is not always the case. In some cases, sudden weight loss may occur which can be a symptom of a serious condition in the body. Sudden changes in the body that lead to weight loss or weight gain can be dangerous for your health and hence you need to know the reasons behind it to prevent adversities from happening. You need to understand that if weight loss occurs without any deliberate activity, it can lead to medical complications. Today we will discuss about the common conditions that can be behind these reasons.

Health conditions that can cause sudden weight loss

1. Muscle Loss

One of the common problems in older adults that causes sudden weight loss is loss of muscle mass. Muscle loss is a common problem because with age, muscle mass starts decreasing. Although it may also be possible due to muscle weakness. As you lose muscle, so does your weight. Muscle loss in young adults occurs in people who work desk jobs or do no physical activity that can reverse muscle loss. Loss of muscle mass can also be due to the following reasons-

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Nerve Damage

Shock

Osteoarthritis

Multiple Sclerosis

Injury and Bone Loss

2. Overactive Thyroid

This is a common cause of sudden weight loss for people with thyroid dysfunction. This is also a symptom of thyroid. Hyperthyroidism develops in a condition where the thyroid gland makes too many hormones. These hormones can affect the metabolism in the body and thus lead to sudden weight loss in some cases. Due to an overactive thyroid, it burns a significant amount of calories, leading to unintentional weight loss in people.

3. Rheumatoid Arthritis

This is an autoimmune disease that can cause your immune system to attack the lining of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation in the tissues and thus affects a person's metabolism in such a way that it causes weight loss at a significant rate. This condition can also cause swelling and pain in the joints which may later feel stiff when moved for more than an hour.

Here are some reasons that can lead to rheumatoid arthritis-

Jean

Hormonal changes

Smoking

Obesity

4. Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes can also be another reason for weight loss. Your immune system can be attacked by dysfunction of the pancreas and insulin levels. Without insulin, the body cannot produce glucose for energy. This can result in an increase in glucose levels and therefore lead to health problems and sudden weight loss. Type 1 diabetes can be caused by -

Frequent Urination

Dehydration in the body

Blurred Vision

Extreme Hunger

Extreme Thirst

5. Depression

Sudden weight loss can also occur due to depression. The reason behind this is the hormones released in sadness or anxiety, which interfere with your digestive system and cause weight loss. Depression actually affects the same part of the brain that is affected by hunger, with poor appetite eventually leading to weight loss. Although it is not stable; It may change according to different people. But it is a valid reason for sudden weight loss that is often overlooked.

6. Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Unexpected weight loss can affect the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. This can also be true for chronic conditions that are also caused by problems in the digestive system. The two most common types of IBD that result in sudden weight loss are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Inflammatory bowel syndrome also disrupts ghrelin, the hunger hormone and lepton hormone that reduces appetite and causes sudden weight loss.

7. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD is a progressive lung disorder that can cause emphysema and chronic bronchitis. There are many people who have both of these conditions. Sudden weight loss can occur due to damage to the air sacs in the lungs, which makes it difficult for a person to breathe. Chronic bronchitis causes inflammation in the airways leading to mucus, coughing and breathing problems. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is caused by the following symptoms-

Difficulty Breathing

Chest Tightness

Wheezing

Mild cough that may occur with or without mucus