Most of us would be happy to lose a few pounds with almost no effort.
However, losing weight without working out in the gym or cutting down could signify something sinister.
A rapid loss of weight can be a symptom of a plethora of potentially severe conditions, from stress to serious illnesses, diabetes, and even cancer.
Experts advise that if you unintentionally lose more than five percent of your average body weight, or more than 10 lbs. in less than a year, you should consult with your physician.
Read on to discover why you should never ignore this key health sign.
An overactive thyroid could be to blame
An overactive thyroid — known medically as hyperthyroidism — can cause several symptoms, including muscle weakness, persistent thirst, and mood swings.
However, an overactive thyroid also causes a metabolism spike, which leads to rapid weight loss and can also increase appetite, the NHS explains.
That’s because the thyroid produces hormones that help regulate the body’s metabolism. These hormones are called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
Medicines called thioamides can be used to halt the production of excess hormones by the thyroid; however, other treatments, including surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid and radiotherapy to destroy cells in the thyroid gland, may be recommended.
Rapid weight loss could indicate Type 1 diabetes
Losing weight despite consuming high-calorie amounts could also be a symptom of diabetes.
That is because insufficient insulin prevents the body from transferring glucose from blood to body cells for use as energy.
This causes the body to burn muscle and fat as energy, which can trigger rapid weight loss.
“Rapid weight loss can be a symptom of type 1 diabetes because one of insulin’s main jobs is to move sugar from the blood into the cells where it can be used for energy or stored for use later,” said a senior clinical advisor at Diabetes UK, Esther Walden.
“When there is no insulin the cells become starved of energy, the body works harder to try to get rid of the excess sugar in the blood, and the excess sugar can’t be stored in the fat cells,” explained Walden.
“Additionally, when there is no insulin, the body starts to break down fat to produce a form of energy the body can use,” she said.
This weight loss can happen quite rapidly in the lead-up to a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, Walden warns.
It is a symptom of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are both types of inflammatory bowel disease that cause diarrhea and stomach pain.
The conditions also cause mucus or blood in your stool, bleeding from your bottom, unintentional weight loss, and constant exhaustion.
Although it is unclear what causes the conditions, which affect around 10 million people internationally, the NHS says they happen when the immune system attacks the bowel, causing it to become inflamed.
According to Crohn’s & Colitis UK, this gut inflammation prevents the body from fully absorbing nutrients from the food it consumes, leading to malnutrition and weight loss.
Appetite loss and unintentionally losing a substantial amount of weight is a symptom that hits 80 percent of individuals with upper gastrointestinal cancer, such as liver or stomach cancer.
“Sudden and unplanned weight loss can happen when you are going through stressful events in your life, or it can be linked to other underlying health conditions,” said Maxine Lenza, Cancer Research UK’s health information manager.
“Unexplained weight loss can also be a symptom of several types of cancer, including lung, bowel, and pancreatic cancer,” added Lenza.
Cachexia, otherwise known as wasting syndrome, is a possible symptom of cancer and causes extreme loss of fat and muscle, according to Cancer Research UK.
Individuals with early-stage cancers usually don’t get cachexia. However, up to four in five people with advanced cancer develop some degree of cachexia, explained the charity.
But cachexia is not just a symptom of cancer.
This specific cause of rapid weight loss in cancer can also occur with kidney and heart disease and HIV.
With cancer, it’s believed to be driven by inflammation.
That is because inflammation can promote the wasting of muscle, and a tumor can suck energy away from the rest of the body.
Inflammation has additionally been linked to muscle loss because it causes the protein to be broken down more rapidly than it’s being made. Cancer can damage the mitochondria, the portion of the cell responsible for converting nutrients into energy.
However, catching these symptoms of cancer early could make a significant difference.
“If you notice any unusual changes like losing a noticeable amount of weight without trying to, it’s important to speak to your doctor. In most cases, it won’t be cancer, but if it is, finding it early can make a real difference,” said Lenza.
Mental health and stress could be a trigger…
Unintentional weight loss isn’t only a warning sign of a severe physical illness.
Going through a stressful event like a divorce, breakup, loss of a loved one, or losing a job can all contribute to weight loss, explained the NHS.
That is because, in some instances, stress can cause indigestion, repetitive nervous movements, or loss of appetite.
When you’re stressed over a long period, stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol can build up in the body, which can have various physical effects, from a suppressed appetite to disrupted sleep.
The “fight or flight” hormone — adrenaline — usually gives a boost to motivate us. However, too much of it can affect our mood and even our bowels, causing constipation and cramps, warned the NHS.
This can cause us to experience loss of appetite and, as a result, weight loss.
Weight loss can additionally be due to foot tapping and nervous fidgeting, which, if done constantly, can burn extra calories.
Stress isn’t a mental condition that can cause quick weight loss, anxiety, and depression, and eating disorders can additionally be a reason for someone losing a substantial amount of weight.
The primary symptom of anorexia, for example, is deliberately losing weight or keeping body weight lower than is healthy for your height and age.
Losing control over how much you consume and then taking drastic action to not gain weight is also a sign of bulimia.
It is estimated that 1.25 million individuals in the UK have an eating disorder, according to charity Beat.
Signs to watch out for are if someone is worrying about their body shape or weight, avoiding social situations where food is involved, having strict food habits, or exercising too much.
