Four Causes of Unintentional Weight Loss

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - From diets to exercise to medications or a combination of these, people have tried many ways to lose weight. But there are cases of unintentional weight loss that need to be watched.

Experts advise consulting a doctor if you unintentionally lose more than five percent of your normal body weight although according to the UK's National Health Service (NHS), the cause is not necessarily a health problem.

"It might be caused by a stressful event such as divorce, job loss or the death of a loved one. It can also be caused by malnutrition, a health condition or a combination of things," the NHS said as quoted by Express.

The following are some health issues that can cause rapid weight loss:

Hyperthyroidism

This condition occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, which affects heart rate and body temperature. One of the symptoms is an increase in metabolism, resulting in weight loss.

Digestive problems

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which affects digestion, can cause diarrhea and severe stomach pain. One of the symptoms is a diarrhea that lasts for a long time, causing weight loss.

Cancer

Loss of appetite is a symptom of nearly 80 percent of cancers that affect the digestive system, such as stomach and liver cancer. The result is drastic weight loss.

Stress

Experiencing stressful events such as separation, divorce, loss of a loved one, or unemployment can lead to appetite loss and digestive problems. When stress is prolonged, hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline build up in the system and can lead to many physical problems such as difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite.

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