Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by

When you have a medical problem finding the right professional to help you is an important step. Weight loss is not just about losing pounds and being able to fit into your old clothes again. It’s about feeling healthy, which is why you should find an expert who understands how we gain weight, and how we can lose it without unnecessary suffering.

It’s pretty easy to figure out what term is being searched as a majority of people aren’t going to go through all the effort of using “the” in a long tail search query. There are 2 reasons I believe this happens. The first reason is laziness. It’s easier to type “do you know any weight loss pills” than it is to type “do you know any weight loss drugs”. The second reason may be due to the fact that some people may not realize that some medications are available over the counter. They might think that anything for weight loss must be a prescription drug. After all, if you want to take control of your weight, then this is the way to go. Here is why: I’m going to talk about Medical Term For Weight Loss, make sure you read this article.

Medical Term For Weight Loss

A measurable decline in body weight (BW) either intentionally or from malnutrition or illness. It is considered mild when 5% of BW is lost, moderate when 5-10% of BW is lost, and high when more than 10% of BW is lost.

Patient care

Intentional weight loss achieved through dieting and/or exercise has significant health benefits for the overweight or obese. It reduces the risk of many common illnesses, including coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Unintentional weight loss, esp. of more than 10% of BW may be a marker of serious disease, such as AIDS, cancer, depression, hyperthyroidism, parasitosis, peptic ulceration, or food insecurity (starvation due to an inadequate food supply).

Weight loss is defined as the reduction in body mass and body fat. However, extreme cases may also involve loss of protein, lean mass, and other substrates in the body. It may either be intentional, like when you go on a diet or unintentional, when it is secondary to a disease such as infection or cancer.

Causes

Multiple factors come into play when it comes to losing weight. The basic principle involved is that the body weight is influenced by the amount of energy that we use in our daily activities and the amount of energy found in the food that we eat. A person whose weight does not change is most likely burning the same number of calories as he is taking in. The excess calories taken in are stored in the body as fat. Thus, for people who want to lose weight, they can either decrease the amount of food intake or increase the amount of energy they expend in their physical activities.

Intentional weight loss is usually carried out to improve a person’s health and promote fitness. People who are obese or overweight can benefit significantly with this form of weight loss, as health risks can be reduced and diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, can be prevented. Patients who intentionally want to lose weight can do so with lifestyle modification strategies, mainly a combination of a low-calorie diet and increased exercise or activity. Other techniques to lose weight include the use of certain medications. For patients who are severely obese, bariatric surgery can be performed to decrease the size of the stomach.

On the other hand, unintentional weight loss could be a manifestation of a number of medical conditions. Illnesses tend to increase the metabolic demands of the body, even in the resting state. At the same time, diseases can lead to a loss of appetite or an inability to eat, resulting in decreased caloric intake. Aside from these, certain diseases that affect the gastrointestinal system can result in problems in digestion or absorption of nutrients. In addition, excessive losses of calories and nutrients may also occur, especially in patients with chronic diarrhea or vomiting.

Some examples of diseases that cause weight loss include malnutrition, chronic infection such as tuberculosis and HIV, long-standing illnesses such as hyperthyroidism or Parkinson’s disease, different forms of cancer, and chronic depression. Digestive system conditions leading to weight loss include parasitic infections resulting in chronic [diarrhea, inflammatory bowel syndrome or chronic pancreatitis, among others. Stomas or enterocutaneous fistulae can also lead to weight loss due to excessive loss of nutrients. Some medications, specifically diabetes and chemotherapeutic drugs, may also induce weight loss.

Continued and progressive weight loss can result in medical condition known as wasting or cachexia. This state is associated with poor outcomes. With this condition, patients can lose weight even when they are receiving enough calories. Severe weight loss can affect various systems of the body and could result in devastating consequences, including impaired healing and immune response, weakened muscle strength, kidney dysfunction, and even death.

Key Symptoms

Weight loss can be alarming if it happens too fast. If you want to lose weight, it is best to lose an average of 1 kg a week. Otherwise, you might end up losing lean muscle instead of body fat. People who lose more than 5 to 10% of their usual body weight in a span of a year or less for no reason at all, are advised to seek medical attention. It is also recommended to consult a physician if you experience other symptoms, such as chronic cough or diarrhea, together with weight loss.

Symptoms of unintentional weight loss are:

• Abdominal discomfort or pain
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Physically smaller stature

Who to See and Types of Treatments Available

A general medical practitioner or family doctor can evaluate the cause of your weight loss. You will be asked about your medical history and eating habits. Your physician can also elicit symptoms that you may not have noticed but could be related to your condition. A complete physical examination and as well as laboratory tests will be ordered to determine the exact causes.

Treatment will depend on the cause of the weight loss. Patients with associated medical conditions are referred to medical or surgical specialists to manage the disease. Your health care provider may also need to work with a nutritionist or dietician in order to check if you are receiving adequate nutrition. Typically, an up building diet rich in protein and nutrients is recommended for patients in order to gain weight.

Who is at risk for unexplained weight loss?

Unexplained weight loss can occur in anyone. However, it is most common (and most serious) in people who are over the age of 65. Even unexplained weight loss of less than 5 percent of body weight or 10 pounds may be the sign of a serious condition in older people.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What are the causes of unexplained weight loss?

Unexplained weight loss can be caused by conditions that range from mild to very serious. The causes can be physical or psychological, and include:

• An overactive or underactive thyroid gland. The thyroid gland helps regulate your body temperature and control your heart rate and metabolism (the process that turns the food you eat into energy).
• Cancer
• Crohn’s disease (an inflammation of the bowels)
• Heart failure
• Addison’s disease, a condition in which the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone
• Parkinson’s disease
• AIDS
• Gastrointestinal problems, such as peptic ulcer or ulcerative colitis
• Dental problems
• Depression or anxiety
• Side effects of prescription medications
• Celiac disease (allergy to gluten)
• Diabetes
• A parasitic infection
• Drug abuse
• Undiagnosed eating disorders
• Swelling of the pancreas
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Dysphagia (swallowing problems)
• Dementia

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS

When should I see a doctor about unexplained weight loss?

You should consult your physician if you have lost more than 5 percent of body weight or 10 pounds without trying in a period of 6 to 12 months. This is especially important if you have other symptoms, too.

How is unexplained weight loss diagnosed?

To diagnose your weight loss, your doctor will give you a physical examination and ask you such questions as:

• How much weight have you lost?
• When did the weight loss begin?
• Are you taking any medications?
• Have your eating patterns changed?
• Are you exercising more?
• Have you been sick recently?
• Are you feeling tired more often?
• Do you have any dental problems?
• Do you have any problems with swallowing?
• Have you been vomiting?
• Are you experiencing stress?
• Have you had any fainting episodes?
• Do you have increased thirst?
• Are you urinating more than usual?
• Do you have diarrhea?
• Are you depressed?
• How much alcohol do you drink per day?

The answers to these questions will help your doctor determine if other tests might be needed, such as blood work and imaging scans (X-rays, etc.).

MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

How is unexplained weight loss treated?

Unexplained weight loss is treated by identifying the underlying condition (the condition or illness that is causing the weight loss). If no underlying condition is identified right away, your doctor may recommend a wait-and-see approach, along with a special diet.

For instance, your doctor may recommend that you use nutrition shakes to get more calories, or add flavor enhancers to your food to improve the taste so that you eat more. You may be also be referred to a dietitian for advice and counseling.