Unlike weight loss achieved through healthy eating and exercise, unintentional weight loss can be a symptom of serious health problems, from metabolic disorders and chronic diseases, as well as psychological problems. It is important to be able to detect early the various health problems that unintentional weight loss can indicate, so that it can be responded to in a timely manner.
Hyperthyroidism - increased work of the thyroid gland
An overactive thyroid gland, medically known as hyperthyroidism, can lead to a variety of symptoms such as mood swings, muscle weakness and thirst. This condition significantly affects metabolism, causing rapid weight loss despite increased appetite. The thyroid gland produces the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which regulate the rate of metabolism in the body, and when these hormones are overproduced, the metabolism accelerates, leading to weight loss.
Diabetes
Rapid weight loss can also be a symptom of diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes. This occurs when the body lacks enough insulin to transport glucose from the blood into the cells for energy. Then the body burns fat and muscle for energy, which leads to weight loss.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can lead to significant weight loss. These diseases cause inflammation in the digestive tract, which impairs the body's ability to absorb nutrients from food, resulting in weight loss and malnutrition. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and chronic fatigue.
Carcinoma
Unintentional weight loss is also a common symptom in many types of cancer, especially upper gastrointestinal cancers such as stomach and liver cancer. Cancer Research UK points out that up to 80 percent of people with advanced cancer experience cachexia, a condition characterized by extreme muscle and fat loss. This syndrome can also occur with other serious diseases such as HIV, kidney disease and heart disease, which are often fueled by inflammation that promotes muscle wasting and takes energy from the rest of the body.
Stress and mental health: psychological triggers
Psychological stress can also be a cause of unintentional weight loss. Events such as the loss of a loved one, divorce, or job loss can reduce appetite and lead to weight loss, and prolonged stress increases the level of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can suppress appetite and disrupt digestion. In addition, behaviors such as fidgeting or tapping your feet can burn extra calories, contributing to weight loss, he writes. i live.hr.
Depression, anxiety and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are other mental health conditions that can significantly affect weight loss. These disorders often involve restrictive eating habits and an excessive focus on body weight and body image itself.
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