Weight loss should be a concern when it happens involuntarily, without the person noticing that they are losing weight. In general, it’s normal to lose weight after stress phases, such as changing jobs, getting divorced, or losing a loved one.
However, if weight loss is not related to these factors or to diet or increased physical activity, you should consult a doctor to assess the cause of the problem, which may be due to thyroid disease, diabetes, tuberculosis or cancer. .
- In general.
- When involuntary weight loss occurs and for no apparent reason.
- It may be due to gastrointestinal disturbances.
- Neurological diseases.
- Thyroid problems such as hyperthyroidism.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- And infectious diseases.
- Such as tuberculosis and AIDS.
- For example.
- In addition.
- This may be due to diabetes.
- Psychological problems such as depression.
- Excessive alcohol or drug use.
- And cancer.
Weight loss can also have specific causes depending on the person’s age and associated situations, such as:
Weight loss during aging is considered normal when it is slow and is usually linked to lack of appetite, changes in taste or side effects of medications. Another common reason is dementia, which makes people forget to eat and eat properly. In addition to weight loss, it is also normal to lose muscle mass and bone mass, which makes older people more fragile and at increased risk of bone fractures.
Weight loss during pregnancy is not a normal situation, but can occur mainly when the pregnantness has a lot of nausea and vomiting at the beginning of pregnancy, due to lack of an adequate diet. In these cases, it is essential to consult a nutritionist to know what to do and avoid serious complications that can impair fetal growth, as a healthy pregnant woman with a normal weight is expected to increase from 10 to 15 kg throughout the pregnancy.
Weight loss is common in newborns, who typically lose up to 10% of their body weight in the first 15 days of life, due to the expulsion of fluids through urine and faeces. As a matter of time, the baby is expected to increase by about 250g per week to 6 months of age and always gain weight and height as he or she grows. If this doesn’t happen, it’s important for your pediatrician to constantly monitor your baby so there are no changes in the development process.
It is important to know the cause of weight loss so that your doctor can indicate the most appropriate treatment so that it is possible to prevent complications. Therefore, to diagnose the cause of weight loss, your doctor should evaluate the symptoms presented and order evidence based on suspicion, such as blood, urine and stool tests, an MRI or chest x-ray, continuing research according to the results obtained. .
Generally, the family doctor or family doctor is the first doctor to consult and only after the results of the exams can he or she appoint a specialist according to the cause of the problem, such as an endocrinologist, psychiatrist or oncologist, for example.
To help assess the cause of the problem, look for signs and symptoms that may indicate cancer.
Weight loss is a concern when the patient accidentally loses more than 5% of their body weight over a period of 1 to 3 months. In a 70 kg person, for example, the loss is worrying when it exceeds 3.5 kg, and in a 50 kg person, anxiety occurs when another 2.5 kg inadvertently loses.
In addition, you should also be aware of signs such as fatigue, loss of appetite, changes in the rate of bowel function and increased frequency of infections such as flu.