Weight loss: causes, treatment, tips

Weight loss: causes, treatment, tips

loss in weight

A weight loss is in many cases wanted: Who wants to lose weight, eats less or moves more to achieve a negative calorie balance - then melt the pounds. Sometimes, however, unintentionally the appetite fails. If this is the case over a more extended period, or if weight loss occurs despite eating regularly, a condition may be behind weight loss.

Weight loss: description

A person loses weight whenever he consumes more calories than he ingests. In many cases, the weight loss is intentional: To slim down, many change their diet to less high-calorie food and move more. Often enough, weight loss is not easy.

Others lose weight, though they do not want to lose weight. You do not have an appetite. Everybody knows this in short phases. Sorrow, stress, an approaching infection - the reason is usually apparent, and seldom does the scale after such episodes show more than one or two kilos of weight loss.

However, if the appetite disorder lasts longer or decreases, although the appetite is healthy or even increased, it may conceal a serious cause behind it.

Weight loss: causes and possible diseases

There are two forms of unwanted weight loss: The one person lose weight because they feel little appetite. The others lose weight even though they usually eat or even more than before.

The following causes can be behind the weight loss:

Infections: In chronic and acute diseases, appetite is often reduced. Also, there are usually symptoms such as fatigue and poor performance. In some cases, these symptoms are the first signs that something is wrong in the body. Infectious diseases with particularly severe weight loss are, for example, HIV and tuberculosis.

Stomach, Intestines & Co : Gastrointestinal infections, ulcers, gastric mucosal or pancreatitis (pancreatitis) can cause the patient to eat less due to nausea or pain. In other gastrointestinal diseases is added that the intestine can not sufficiently absorb the nutrients in the body. This is the case, for example, with diarrheal conditions, but also with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease.

Worm Infestation: Also, weight loses who harbours parasites in its intestines, such as a cattle tapeworm or a fish tapeworm.

Food allergies and food intolerances such as lactose intolerance can lead to weight loss first, because they are accompanied by severe symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and nausea, which makes those concerned afraid of eating. Or the patient often refrains from meals, because just about anything tolerable for him is not available. For some intolerances, the body can only partially process the ingested food. This is the case, for example, with intolerance of gluten (celiac disease).

Diseases of other organs may also be associated with loss of appetite. This applies, for example, to cirrhosis of the liver, kidney failure (renal insufficiency), occlusion of the bile ducts or adrenocortical failure (Addison's disease).

Metabolic diseases, in turn, can unnaturally drive up calorie consumption. An example of this is an overactive thyroid.

Diabetes: People with type 1 diabetes lose weight if their blood sugar is not adjusted correctly. The sugar is then not processed, but distributed over the urine. By contrast, type 2 diabetics are more likely to be overweight.

Cancers are often associated with massive weight loss - sometimes before the chemotherapy leads to nausea or the fear for life costs the appetite. Often an unexplained weight loss is a first symptom: When tumours grow, they deprive the body of nutrients so that the patient loses weight. This is why doctors sometimes speak of "consuming diseases".

Mental illness: Mental illness can lead to weight loss. In people with anxiety disorders or depression, the appetite also often suffers. However, diseases can also be reversed - by gaining weight.

Eating Disorders: In eating disorders such as anorexia (anorexia) or eating-crushing addiction (bulimia), the thing is different again. In the case of anorexia, the sufferers must - at least initially - fight against hunger. Since they eat minimal and often excessive exercise, there is a weight loss. Bulimics, in turn, succumb again and again binge eating. Artificially induced vomiting prevents them from increasing. Sometimes they even lose weight.

Medication & Drugs: Sometimes, medicines also turn up your appetite. These include, for example, the cardiac remedy Digitalis, specific asthma remedies, the prescription for ADD, antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs. Similar weight loss can occur in people who consume drugs. This includes - although he has many calories - and alcohol.

Diseases with this symptom

Find out here about the disorders in which the sign can occur:

• Pica
• anorexia
• Addison's disease
• Diabetes mellitus

Weight Loss: When do you need to see a doctor?

If you have lost appetite and several pounds of weight for a long time without any apparent reason, you should consult a doctor. Even if you are rather thin anyway, you should go to the doctor sooner rather than later. This also applies if additional complaints are added, such as pain or indigestion.

Also, additional nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue and listlessness in combination with the weight loss may indicate a disease - sometimes it can even be dangerous.

Weight loss: What does the doctor do?

Diagnosis of weight loss

To clarify the causes, the doctor first asks you about your medical history (anamnesis). These include current symptoms as well as possible pre-existing conditions. It is also crucial to clarify whether a mental illness or eating disorders is the reason for the weight loss. It also matters whether you are taking medications that could cause weight loss.

This is followed by a comprehensive physical examination and various laboratory examinations. These include the determination of thyroid hormones and a test for blood in the stool. Depending on the findings, various apparatus examinations are added. Examples are:

• abdominal ultrasound
• X-ray overview of the rib cage
• ECG (electrocardiogram)
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

The examinations can be used to rule out possible causes or to make a diagnosis.

Therapy of weight loss

It does not treat the weight loss itself, but the underlying disease.

Medication: Almost all illnesses associated with weight loss are medicated - ranging from acidulants for stomach ailments to thyroid medications to sugar-degrading insulin syringes for people with diabetes.

Medicines that help directly against nausea and vomiting are called antiemetics. They are used, for example, in cancer therapy.

Psychotherapy: Mental health problems, such as depression, can often be relieved with medication. Another option, however, is psychotherapy, such as deep psychology-based talk therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy. In particular, severe eating disorders can hardly get under control without psychotherapeutic help. Addicts are also dependent on therapeutic support after withdrawal.

Surgical procedures: In some cases, such as occlusion of the bile ducts due to adhesions, tumours or gallstones, surgery is necessary.

Important investigations

These investigations help to find out the causes of the complaints:

• bronchoscopy
• blood test
• J2 investigation
• Anamneses

Weight loss: You can do that yourself

If your weight loss is due to a lack of appetite, you can outsmart your eating disability.

Maintain regular mealtimes: The body is a habit animal. If it is calibrated to regular mealtimes, it will eventually be self-reported. So always eat at the same times - even if it's just a few bites.

Getting moving: exercise, especially in the fresh air, stimulates the appetite. Even a long walk can help.

Lovingly prepared: The eye eats with. If you prepare and serve the food with love, you are more likely to encourage it to eat.

Ginger makes you hungry: Drink ginger water throughout the day - this promotes digestion and appetite. Just pour some slices of ginger over it with hot water and let it brew.

Bitter makes you hungry: Even everything painful causes the gastric juices to flow - thus promoting digestion and appetite. An example: half a grapefruit in the morning, a salad of arugula or chicory at lunchtime.

In the community it tastes better: Who does not eat alone, not only stays longer at the table, he also eats more.

Well, seasoned is half won: At a higher age, the sensory benefits decrease - the taste suffers too. Especially older people do not like the food anymore. For that reason, spice it particularly aromatic - not necessarily with a lot of salt, but with herbs and spices.

Goodbye to stress: Very often, weight loss is stress-related. Relaxation techniques can help here - from progressive muscle relaxation through autogenic training to meditation or tai-chi.