However, unexplained or unintentional weight loss may indicate one of these medical conditions:. A few other factors may make it more likely to lose weight without an explanation. These include:. Smoking and more excellent body fat distribution also increase the chance of unexplained weight loss in older adults.

The following risk factors increase the chance of unexplained or unintentional weight loss in children:. Females are at a higher chance of developing COPD. They are also 2 to 10 times more likely to develop hyperthyroidism and 2 to 3 times more likely to have RA.

Since there are many potential causes of unexplained weight loss, the diagnosis will probably start with a thorough evaluation.

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and history of known medical conditions or medications. In a study , researchers asked subjects to submit various blood test samples and do a chest x-ray.

Older adult patients with no other symptoms were asked to undergo a dental exam, a barium swallow test , and a psychological assessment for depression.

The specific treatment for unexplained weight loss will depend on the underlying cause. In patients over 65, oral disorders were the second biggest cause after cancer. In the same study, the majority of those diagnosed with cancer were found to have pancreatic cancer and lymphoma.

After that, kidney, bladder, and ureteral cancers were most common. However, something else might be happening if you are losing weight without changing your habits.

See your doctor if your weight loss seems significant, especially if you have additional symptoms. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

VIEW ALL HISTORY. Unintentional weight loss is when you lose weight without dieting or increasing physical activity. Diet and exercise may be key components of weight loss for women, but many other factors play a role.

Here are the top 23 weight loss tips for women. Patients with diabetes who used GLP-1 drugs, including tirzepatide, semaglutide, dulaglutide, and exenatide had a decreased chance of being diagnosed…. It might be caused by a stressful event like a divorce, losing a job, or the death of a loved one.

It can also be caused by malnutrition, a health condition or a combination of things. Sometimes weight loss can be caused by cancer. It's important to get it checked if you're losing weight without trying. Page last reviewed: 16 February Next review due: 16 February A good rule of thumb is to see your doctor if you have lost a significant amount—more than 5 percent of your weight—within 6 to 12 months.

There are numerous medical conditions that cause sudden, unexplained weight loss," says Dr Hyacinth Peninnah Paljor, Senior Consultant, Department of Internal Medicine, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad.

Diabetes: One of the major causes of unwanted weight loss is Type 1 diabetes juvenile diabetes although can may happen in Type 2 also. If you have Type 1 diabetes, your immune system attacks cells in your pancreas that make insulin. This results in high blood glucose. Our kidneys remove unused glucose through urine.

As sugar leaves your body, so do calories, says Deepti Khatuja. Treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus includes insulin, blood sugar monitoring, diet, and exercise," says Dr Paljor. Cancer: Cancer is the disease that causes abnormal cells to quickly divide and spread.

According to the American Cancer Society, one of the first signs may be unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more. Cancer increases inflammation. This promotes muscle wasting and disrupts appetite-regulating hormones.

A growing tumour may also increase your resting energy expenditure REE , or how much energy your body burns at rest. Cancer cachexia is a wasting syndrome that is linked to many cancers. It's most common in gastric and pancreatic cancers, as well as some lung, head and neck, and colorectal cancers in their later stages," says Khatuja.

Treatment depends on the type of cancer. It may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy," says Dr Paljor.

Tuberculosis: Another cause of unexplained weight loss is tuberculosis TB , a contagious condition that usually affects the lungs, says Khatuja. Weight loss and decreased appetite are some of the common symptoms of TB.

Although TB can be at different organs of the body like abdominal TB etc and unexpected weight loss is quite common," adds the Fortis expert. TB is life-threatening and requires timely intervention. One is detected with TB while having symptoms such as constant cough, chest pain, and even unintentional weight loss.

Hyperthyroidism: " As the thyroid oversees your metabolism, it's understandable that thyroid problems could lead to weight gain.

While having a fast metabolism can help you lose weight, having one that is too fast can be harmful. Rapid weight loss and sometimes additional complications, such as a raised heart rate, more anxiety, jitters, tremors, or insomnia, are all symptoms of an overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism ," says Khatuja.

Diagnosed by a simple thyroid function test," says Dr. Johann Varghese — MBBS, DNB Medicine , DM Endocrinology Honorary Consultant Endocrinologist at Holy Family Hospital.

Gut diseases: Weight loss is caused by conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn's disease, lactose intolerance, and intestinal damage, which can cause malabsorption. Malabsorption occurs when something prevents your gut from absorbing essential nutrients.