Weight loss is a normal phenomenon in the daily lives of most people. Interestingly, weight loss is a welcome development for people looking to shed weight. However, it becomes a problem when you lose more than five percent of your body weight within 6-12 months.
Losing weight at this rate is termed “extreme weight loss,” If you think you’re experiencing this, you should book an appointment with your doctor immediately. Extreme weight loss is very concerning, especially amongst older adults and can be a sign of a health problem.
Additionally, intense special diet and hardcore exercising in overweight or obese individuals can cause a sudden reduction in bodily fat.
You can research and know more about best weight loss supplements for women. Extreme weight loss could begin with symptoms like loss of appetite and fatigue. If you experience these symptoms, please get checked by a doctor immediately.
Unexplained Weight Loss
When figuring out the root cause of unexplained weight loss, one should always ask themselves, “When did the weight loss begin?” Measuring the time frame accurately is one of the first steps to tackling unintentional weight loss. Patients should also take their mental and physical health and surroundings into factor. Stressing about their life events and excessive strain on the physical body can cause massive weight loss, while struggling to adjust to one’s surroundings may result in additional stress leading to weight loss.
One very common cause of unintentional weight loss is sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation tends to trigger an imbalance in your hunger hormones which slows your body’s metabolism causing fat to settle in your bloodstream. In addition, sleep deprivation can reduce the amount of energy available to your body.
How Much Loss Becomes Unexplained Weight Loss?
One could ask, how much weight loss is too much? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can lose as much as 0.45 to 0.9kg per week, which is within the normal and acceptable range. Hence, you can lose about 1.6 to 3.2kg monthly if you’re looking to shed weight.
It becomes unexplained weight loss when you lose over 5% of your entire body weight within a twelve-month cycle. Unintentional weight loss could signal an underlying medical disorder. Rapid weight loss could be due to muscle wasting, hyperthyroidism, depression, and other potential symptoms.
Losing so much weight could also signal malnutrition. Malnutrition occurs when an individual’s diet lacks necessary eating habits and the minimal required calories for the human body. You can curb malnutrition by improving your eating habits and taking in adequate calories needed for the body.
Overthinking could also impact your eating habits and prevent your body from functioning properly. When stressed, you may forget to eat over long periods. Your body then uses up the stored fats in your body to provide energy. Over time, this process will deplete your body’s stored fats leading to weight shedding.
If you start losing weight without trying, you should consult your medical practitioner immediately as you might have a condition known as Cachexia. Cachexia allows people to burn calories at an unusually higher rate.
What Can Unexplained Weight Loss Do To Me?
You could experience gallstones which occur in 12-25% of people who continuously lose weight over time. Other negative dangers of shedding weight include dizziness, headaches, constipation, and muscle wasting. You could also experience fatigue, menstrual abnormalities, and hair loss.
Health Problems Caused by Unexplained Weight Loss
Unexplained weight loss can be the root cause of a host of health problems and complications. Some of them are listed below.
Hyperthyroidism
The thyroid hormone in your body helps to regulate food breakdown. Due to its function, the thyroid hormone affects your basal metabolic rate. The basal metabolic rate depicts how your body uses energy while resting to regulate essential bodily functions such as keeping warm and breathing, among other things.
An overactive thyroid (called hyperthyroidism) is a situation where your body has more thyroid hormone than is needed to regulate your body’s bodily functions. You will experience certain symptoms when your body produces excessive thyroid hormones in the thyroid gland. Such symptoms include a racing heart, nervousness, and insomnia. You could also experience thinning hair, increased sweating, and excessive energy followed by fatigue.
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