Definition
Unwanted weight loss is the loss of body weight that was not intentionally caused by the person concerned, for example through increased physical activity or reduced food intake.
Introduction
A weight loss of over 10% of the original body weight within six months is considered unnatural. This constellation can occur, for example, as a symptom of various illnesses and, together with fever and night sweats, is part of the so-called B-symptomatics. If an unintentional weight loss is noticed, it may be advisable to seek medical clarification.
The causes are very diverse and a malignant disease is not always the cause of weight loss. Increased energy requirements due to everyday stress situations, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases or even metabolic diseases such as hyperthyroidism can also be the cause. For this reason, unintentional weight loss should be investigated.
Causes
An unwanted weight loss can have many causes. The weight loss is caused by an increased energy requirement which cannot be covered sufficiently by the person concerned through food intake. This can be caused, for example, by increased psychological stress in stressful situations in private or at work, but also by organic diseases.
For example, infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV can also be associated with unwanted weight loss. The sufferer can also lose weight in the context of parasitic diseases. Worm diseases in particular play a role here.
The worms nest in the intestines and feed on the food they eat. The patient’s body can then absorb fewer nutrients and lose weight. Another major field is autoimmune diseases, which can lead to increased energy consumption by the body and thus to weight loss.
Examples are the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis as well as the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus. Weight loss can also be associated with other disorders of the digestive process, which ultimately lead to reduced nutrient absorption. Furthermore, metabolic diseases may also be a possible cause of weight loss.
Among these, hyperthyroidism is a particularly common disorder associated with this symptom. The excess of thyroid hormone stimulates all metabolic processes and massively increases the body’s basal metabolic rate. The result is increased energy consumption and thus unwanted weight loss.
Malignant diseases also lead to a massively increased energy demand of the body. The uncontrolled dividing cells metabolize a lot of nutrients and thus cause the high energy consumption. This can lead to considerable weight loss.
Together with fever and night sweats, the unintentional weight loss is also called B-symptomatic in this context. An undesired weight loss should therefore be clarified by a physician, as the causes are manifold and may require a specific therapy. Cancer (malignant tumor) can lead to unwanted weight loss.
Cancer leads to an uncontrolled division of degenerated body cells. These cells need a lot of energy due to the high division rate. They get this energy from the massively increased turnover of nutrients from the blood.
Other body cells have less nutrient at their disposal, so that the body has to use its own fat reserves. Over time, this leads to unwanted weight loss, which can hardly be compensated for by increased food intake. In addition, cancer patients often suffer from limited appetite, which further promotes weight loss.
The physical emaciation in the context of a tumor disease is also known as tumor cachexia. There are other mechanisms at the cellular level that promote the breakdown of the body’s own reserves. However, not every type of cancer causes unwanted weight loss.
For example, patients with breast or blood cancer are rarely affected, while patients with lung cancer or pancreatic cancer often lose a lot of weight. Pronounced weight loss in the context of cancer is generally associated with a rather poor prognosis. The patient is weakened by the lack of energy, is less able to cope with the therapy and more often suffers from side effects.
The immune system is additionally weakened and complications occur more frequently.For these reasons, early attempts should be made to increase calorie intake in cancer patients who show unwanted weight loss. In pronounced forms, the increased calorie intake is usually not much use, as the energy requirement is too massive, but lighter forms can be countered well by adjusting the dietary habits. Stress can lead to a significantly increased energy requirement, because in stressful situations the body consumes a lot of energy.
Stress hormones are released which stimulate the metabolic processes. The body provides the body cells with many energy substrates that they can metabolize quickly. This can lead to weight loss after a certain time.
In addition, many people feel less appetite in stressful situations and therefore eat less. The combination of an increased energy requirement and a lack of energy supply then causes unwanted weight loss. If the stress subsides after some time, the situation usually regulates itself again quickly. The body refills its energy reserves and the weight returns to its original state. Persistent, unwanted weight loss should therefore be clarified by a doctor, as serious illnesses can also be hidden behind this symptom.
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