Geschatte leestijd: 3 minutenAre you in the process of losing weight and curious about the causes of weight loss? Indeed, this is a fantastic goal for many people, but when you’re losing weight inexplicably, it can be cause for concern. Therefore, it’s important to determine what is causing this sudden weight loss.
In this article, we delve into the 5 causes of sudden weight loss. These are just the top 5, there can certainly be many more inexplicable reasons for losing weight. Of course, we also indicate when it’s better to consult a doctor.
Table of Contents
- Unexplained Weight Loss
- Possible Causes of Sudden Weight Loss
- Weight Loss Due to Stress
- Weight Loss Due to Increased Physical Activity
- Fluid Loss
- Thyroid
- Gastrointestinal Disorders and Parasites
- What is Excessive Weight Loss?
Unexplained Weight Loss
When you’re trying to lose weight, unexplained weight loss may be very welcome. After all, if you’ve been struggling to lose weight and it suddenly happens effortlessly, you probably won’t immediately look for the causes of weight loss.
In many cases, this isn’t something to worry about right away. However, if you’re healthy, it’s not usual to lose weight on the scale without explanation. So, here are some checks to ensure for yourself that nothing is wrong.
Possible Causes of Sudden Weight Loss
In this article, we explore 5 possible causes that can lead to unexplained weight loss. We’ll first look at the impact of stress on weight, which is one of the most common causes of sudden weight loss. Then, we’ll examine the role of exercise and weight loss, another common cause. Next, we’ll look at the role of fluid and weight, followed by the role of the thyroid and weight loss, and finally, we’ll delve into the possibilities of gastrointestinal disorders and parasites.
Weight Loss Due to Stress
Stress can be one of the causes of sudden weight loss. Many people experiencing high levels of stress often have a reduced appetite and simply eat less. When you eat less and therefore consume fewer calories, it’s logical that you’ll end up in a calorie deficit and therefore lose weight. This weight loss can be easily explained by the increase in stress and decrease in calorie intake. This type of unexplained weight loss is generally harmless as long as it’s not prolonged. The solution is also quite simple: eating more calories will help you regain weight.
Weight Loss Due to Increased Physical Activity
In addition to increased stress, more physical activity can also lead to weight loss. After all, if you were burning fewer calories before and suddenly start burning more calories through increased activity, that can certainly be a good explanation. If your lifestyle has changed dramatically because you’re walking or exercising more frequently, or if you’ve found a new hobby that makes you more active, it can make a huge difference in your energy balance, especially if you engage in these activities on a daily basis.
Fluid Loss
It’s also possible that your weight loss is caused by a change in your diet. You don’t necessarily have to eat less, but if you’re consuming less salt, this can lead to weight loss. Salt retains a lot of fluid, which contributes to your total weight on the scale. So, if you suddenly cut out salt from your diet, you could immediately lose some water weight and therefore kilograms on the scale.
Thyroid
In addition to fluid loss from less salt, increased physical activity, and stress, there may also be more serious causes for sudden weight loss. For example, your metabolism may have sped up due to a disruption in the functioning of your thyroid. Your thyroid produces hormones that play a major role in regulating your metabolism. If the functioning of the thyroid is disrupted, it may start working too fast, causing your metabolism to accelerate and therefore burn more calories.
Gastrointestinal Disorders and Parasites
We don’t want to scare you, but if your unexplained weight loss can’t be attributed to the top 4 causes, it may be that the problem lies further in your digestive system. This could be the case if you’ve contracted a parasite, such as a tapeworm. The tapeworm feeds on what you eat every day to nourish itself. You’re eating just as much as you normally would, but because someone else is eating with you, you can absorb fewer calories overall, resulting in weight loss.
What is Excessive Weight Loss?
If you can’t explain your weight loss based on the above 5 points, it’s important to continue searching for the cause. If you’re losing weight too quickly and feeling lethargic, it’s important to have this further investigated.
If you can identify a cause, you can first try making some lifestyle adjustments to stop the sudden weight loss. If that doesn’t work, it’s wise to consult a doctor and have your weight loss further examined. This is especially true if you’ve lost more than 5 kilograms in a month or more than 10 kilograms in six months.
