Interesting Facts about Abnormal Weight Loss

Weight loss is a cause and symptom of a severe sickness. Voluntary or not, it leads to the decrease of total body weight, though the loss of fat (adipose tissues) and bodily fluids. Tremendous weight loss can also cause muscle atrophy, depression and can exacerbate existing conditions. Studies show the strong link between mortality and weight loss.

The following symptoms cause weight loss in some individuals:

• Depression: Have varying symptoms of sleep difficulty, suicidal thoughts, lack of energy or fatigue, and low appetite.

• Loss of appetite: Also called Anorexia by doctors and people from the medical profession.

• Cancer: Pancreatic cancer is one major cause of abnormal weight loss. Treatment of other types of cancer exhibits similar effects.

• Hyperthyroidism: This occurs when the thyroid glands, the organ that regulates our metabolism, produces more hormones (thyroxin) for it. The condition leads too sudden weight loss regardless of the regular food intake.

• Malnutrition: Malnutrition is caused by the lack or proteins, carbohydrates and specific vitamins. An example of this is scurvy, which results from the lack of vitamin C intake. Meals should always be supplemented with proper nutrition. If you notice, people who are well-nourished rarely get sick.

• Drug abuse: The misuse and abuse of drugs are bad for the body as these affects the heart rate and blood pressure. Drugs keep a person lethargic or over stimulated. Prolonged drug abuse can cause drug dependence, insomnia, abnormal weight loss, aggression, irritability, and cardiac arrest.

• Eating disorders: An eating disorder is a disturbance in the way a person consumes food, usually brought about by psychological factors. The most prevalent are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Binge or compulsive eating is also a symptom of an eating disorder.

• Smoking: Smoking is not only harmful to the lungs but to the brains as well. It weakens the immune system and causes cardiovascular ailments.

• Aids: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome targets the immune system making you susceptible to opportunistic diseases. There’s still no treatment for AIDS though medical breakthroughs have delayed the development of the disease for many years in certain individuals.

• Infection: The presence of infections in the body, particularly in the stomach leads to some body dysfunction.

Medicines for enhancing weight gain are available in the market for those who have experienced tremendous weight loss. It is best to target the source of weight loss though like depression and grave diseases. For instance, treating depression by using mirtazapine (remeron) can induce weight gain. Megestrol (megace), which is prescribed to aids and cancer patients, as well as Recombinant Human Growth Hormone (somatortopin or serostimal) can enhance one’s body mass. However, while such medicines are effective, it is not good to consider them as first line treatment as they might have adverse effects on some people. Besides, these medicines are costly.

Here are some suggested tips to prevent weight loss:

• Consume foods you normally enjoy.
• Have a number of small meals a day instead of eating three major meals.
• Make muffins, eggs, nuts, yogurt, cheese, and ice creams a part of your menu.
• Include foods with high calorie and protein count in your diet.
• Eat your meals at amiable places.
• Hydrate yourself by drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day.