Losing weight without trying?

Trousers that have become too big

Levko is losing weight for no visible reason, Inna is held back by nausea, and Kostiantyn is losing weight alongside frequent runs and tiredness. In all three cases unintentional weight loss is worth checking – the section “Why check unintentional weight loss?” explains why.

If at least one of these stories resembles yours, note over what period your weight has changed. If none of them fits, the questions in the section “Over what period has your weight changed?” can help you describe the change.

Even with a good appetite, weight can drop

Something else often changes along with weight. Compare which is closer to your experience.

• Loss of appetite. You do not want to eat, and your weight drops as a result. See the page on loss of appetite.
• Digestive problems. Nausea, abdominal pain or bowel changes get in the way of eating, as for Inna in our example. Compare with the description of digestive problems.
• Depressed mood. Weight is dropping together with sadness, tiredness and loss of interest. See the page on depressed mood.
• Increased appetite. If you eat more but are losing weight, it is especially important to tell a doctor. The page on increased appetite looks at what this is like.

These changes often occur together, and one of them on its own decides nothing.

Over what period has your weight changed?

Weight loss is a drop in body weight compared with your usual level. Compare your weight over a period of time rather than ups and downs within a day, and answer these questions:

• Was the weight loss intentional, or did it happen without changes in your lifestyle?
• How quickly is your weight changing?
• Has your appetite decreased?
• Have your eating habits and portion sizes changed?
• Do you have nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bowel changes or difficulty swallowing?
• Have you developed marked thirst or frequent urination?

If you have almost stopped eating or drinking, or are weakening quickly, see the first point of the section “Lost weight for no reason? Book an examination” straight away.

Observations worth taking to an appointment

For new or persistent physical symptoms, start with a family doctor. Tell them over what period your weight has changed, how you eat and what other symptoms you have noticed. Further investigations depend on your symptoms and examination, not a standard checklist.

If mood or anxiety also trouble you, you can discuss this with a psychiatrist; the initial psychiatric consultation page lets you read in advance how such a meeting goes. The specialists’ areas of work are collected on the clinic’s doctors page.

Why check unintentional weight loss?

Weight can drop because you eat less or because of changes in physical health, even without a loss of appetite, as with Levko in our example. What matters to the doctor is the pace, your eating, digestion and other symptoms. You do not need to guess an illness from the number on the scales.

If low mood and loss of interest in life persist along with weight loss, a doctor may also assess for depression. Weight loss on its own does not yet mean that you have this disorder.

Eating while the cause is unclear

While the cause is unclear, it helps to try:

• Regular meals. If weight dropped because of a temporary loss of appetite, eat regularly and do not wait to feel very hungry; sometimes small portions several times a day are easier.
• Simpler cooking. With low mood or marked tiredness, simplify meals for a while and choose foods that need little effort.

If your weight keeps dropping for no clear reason, do not rely only on trying to eat more calories yourself: it is important to find the cause first. Kostiantyn in our example should tell the doctor about both the runs and the tiredness that does not go away.

Lost weight for no reason? Book an examination

1. If a person has practically stopped eating or drinking, is weakening quickly or cannot keep up adequate nutrition, it is better not to put off medical help.
2. If weight loss comes with marked weakness, constant pain, prolonged fever, night sweats, vomiting, bowel changes, difficulty swallowing, intense thirst or frequent urination, a medical examination is especially important.
3. If you are losing weight unintentionally, the change is noticeable or continues without a clear reason, see a doctor.
4. If weight loss is linked to deliberate food restriction, intense fear of gaining weight, episodes of overeating, vomiting or other compensatory behaviour, see a specialist experienced in eating disorders.
5. If weight loss comes with persistently low mood, loss of interest, apathy or a sense of hopelessness, an assessment of your mental state is also needed.