Home » News & Facts » 10 Health Issues that Cause Unexplained Weight Loss

10 Health Issues that Cause Unexplained Weight Loss

1 of 3

Losing a few pounds here and there is normal!

Intentional weight loss from dieting and exercise is one thing. But it’s a sign of trouble if you start losing a significant amount of weight without any major changes in your lifestyle. This means you are eating the same amount of food and doing the same kind of physical activities that you normally do.


Rapid weight loss at any time in life should be taken as a serious sign, and you must consult a physician immediately to determine the cause. Always remember that the earlier a disease is discovered, the more successful treatment is likely to be.

health issues that cause unexplained weight loss

Here are 10 health issues that can cause unexplained weight loss.

1. Diabetes

Diabetes is a common reason behind unexplained weight loss. It is a metabolic disorder that causes high blood glucose levels, either due to insufficient insulin production in the body or an inability of the body to respond properly to insulin.

diabetes causes unexplained weight loss

Weight loss occurs in people with diabetes for two reasons: excess water loss due to frequent urination and the body being unable to absorb calories from the sugar in the blood.

Plus, if there is insufficient insulin, the body starts burning fat and muscle for energy, causing a drop in overall body weight.

A 2014 study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research reports that severe weight loss is common only in Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes that remains undetected for a long period of time.

Along with unintentional weight loss, some other symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, excessive thirst, intense hunger, excess fatigue, cuts and bruises not healing properly, and tingling sensations in the feet and/or hands.

2. Hyperthyroidism

Sudden weight loss despite having no change or an increase in appetite can indicate a thyroid problem, particularly hyperthyroidism.

hyperthyroidism causes unexplained weight loss


The high amounts of T4, T3 or both hormones circulating in the blood can cause an excessively high metabolic rate, leading to increased burning of “fuel” in the body.

Apart from rapid weight loss, hyperthyroidism also speeds up your heart rate and causes excess sweating, hot flushes, panic attacks, mood swings, bulging eyes, muscle weakness and fatigue.

3. Stomach Ulcer

People who suffer from a peptic ulcer also experience unexplained weight loss. In fact, it is a prominent sign in many people.

stomach ulcer causes unexplained weight loss

A peptic ulcer, also known as a stomach ulcer, is a sore that develops on the inside lining of the stomach or the upper portion of the small intestine. The sore causes pain and leads to loss of appetite.

So, the reason behind the weight loss is loss of appetite, mixed with nausea and bouts of vomiting, two other common symptoms of a peptic ulcer.


4. Parasite Infestation


parasite infestation causes unintentional weight loss

Several types of parasites live in and feed off your body, and some of them survive on the food you consume. Such parasites include pinworms, hookworms and tapeworms, which enter your body through the skin or by ingestion.

During a parasite infestation, you will notice an increase in your appetite because the parasites consume a good amount of the food you eat, thus making you hungry more often than usual. Moreover, according to a 2013 study published in the PLOS journal, weight loss following a worm infestation could be body’s way of fighting off the worms.

In addition to weight loss and increased appetite, other symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, anal itching, lack of energy, and nutritional deficiencies.

5. Depression

Though it may sound strange, depression can also cause unintentional weight loss.


depression causes unintentional weight loss

Due to the drop in appetite, people suffering from depression may start losing weight.

A 2008 study published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism reports that an increase in depression symptoms correlates to weight loss, which is associated with a trend toward hypoglycemia as well as a decrease in T3 and fT4 levels.

Other common symptoms of depression include sleeping issues, difficulty concentrating, negative thoughts, feelings of hopelessness and/or helplessness, suicidal thoughts and lots more. In some cases, however, depression can cause weight gain instead of weight loss.

6. Cancer

Unexplained weight loss is one of the first noticeable signs of different types of cancer, including prostate, breast, lung, pancreatic, ovarian and colon cancer, to name a few.

cancer causes unexplained weight loss

The uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells speeds up your metabolism and wears out your entire body by straining its resources, which causes weight loss. When the cancer cells start spreading, it can impair the functioning of various internal organs.

Plus, cancer can cause chemical changes in the body that make it very difficult to gain weight, despite eating a high-calorie diet.

Cancer treatments can also lead to weight loss. Radiation and chemotherapy often cause a decrease in appetite. Also, they cause side effects, including nausea, vomiting and mouth sores that make eating a painful process.

Apart from weight loss and loss of appetite, signs and symptoms vary according to the type of cancer.

1 of 3

Leave a Reply
