Why does a person eat but lose weight? Sudden weight loss: reasons for women. When weight loss should be a concern

Severe weight loss or exhaustion (cachexia) is said to occur when a person loses 5% of their total body weight weekly. Such significant losses have a negative impact on both appearance, and on the patient’s well-being. Dramatic weight loss without a reason is impossible, you just have to look for it carefully. All factors that cause exhaustion can be divided into 2 impressive groups: general and medical.

Common reasons

TO common reasons sudden weight loss in both women and men include:

Stress

Stress (change of residence, job change, session, death loved one), are the most common cause of sudden weight loss. In addition to weight loss, stress causes: sleep problems, frequent headache, irritability, followed by tearfulness, absent-mindedness, decreased ability to work, depression. Cm.

Restriction of food intake

It is more common in women, but also occurs in men who follow strict diets to lose weight. In some cases (in adolescents and young women under 25), a serious illness develops – anorexia nervosa – of voluntary refusal to eat.

Loss of teeth

This reason, leading to sudden weight loss, is typical for older people, that is, after 60 years. Poorly chewed food is practically not absorbed in the digestive tract, which leads to deficiency nutrients and weight loss.

Drug/alcohol addiction

Regular use of drugs or alcohol suppresses the food center in the brain and a person loses appetite, which leads to exhaustion. Drugs from light to heavy inevitably worsen tissue trophism, lead to rapid aging and progressive weight loss.

Heavy physical activity

Constant physical activity, including intense sports, accelerates catabolism; the energy generated from incoming food is consumed very quickly, so the body has to use its own reserves of nutrients (see).

Taking medications

Using a number of some medicines leads to rapid weight loss. Such medications include: brain stimulants (piracetam, nootropil, modafinil, ritanil), psychotropic drugs (neuroleptics, tranquilizers), .

Medical reasons

Medical reasons cause sudden weight loss in both sexes:

Intoxication

Most often, significant weight loss is observed during acute respiratory viral infections, which are accompanied by severe intoxication (weakness, fatigue, headaches and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting), which, accordingly, leads to loss of appetite.

Intoxication syndrome also develops with the following chronic infections: hepatitis, a number of intestinal infections,.

Oncological diseases

In advanced stages cancer Any localization develops cancer cachexia, caused by tumor decay, formation of toxic substances, destruction of blood cells (,), metabolic disorders and problems with the digestive tract. See and.

Strokes

Circulatory disorders in the central nervous system (stroke) can impair swallowing due to the development of bulbar syndrome, which almost always involves parenteral or tube nutrition, which becomes a prerequisite for weight loss up to cachexia. Cm. .

Mental illness

Mental disorders (schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis, phobias, etc.) often lead to the patient simply forgetting about food.

Digestive tract diseases

In the first place are diseases such as the duodenum. Impaired breakdown and absorption of nutrients in the stomach leads to significant depletion. The diseases are accompanied by pain in the upper abdomen, aggravated by hunger, after taking prohibited foods, nausea, rotten belching, and stool upset.

Acute intestinal infections

with vomiting and diarrhea lead to loss of water and electrolytes, sudden weight loss and disorders in the functioning of muscles, heart, shortness of breath, dry skin and mucous membranes, atrophic processes in tissues, lesions of the central nervous system(cm. , ).

Weight loss in women

Reasons for sudden weight loss in women include:

Thyrotoxicosis

Pathology of the thyroid gland, in which its hormones (which accelerate metabolism) begin to be produced in large quantities. Males are also affected, but in women this disease occurs 2 times more often. In addition to exhaustion, it manifests itself as cycle disruption, emotional lability, hyperhidrosis, increased blood pressure and tachycardia, increased appetite, tremor, thirst and diarrhea.

Climax

Weight loss in men

The reasons for sudden weight loss in men are as follows:

Chronic pancreatitis

Stomach cancer

The disease is diagnosed in men 2 times more often than in women. Due to difficulties in passing food from the stomach further into the digestive tract (the tumor compresses the organ), its absorption is disrupted, and significant sudden weight loss occurs. Also include decreased appetite, fear of eating (pain, nausea, heartburn, vomiting), weakness, fatigue, rapid saturation (the tumor imitates a “full” stomach).

Lymphogranulomatosis (Hodgkin's disease)

It is a malignant lesion of lymphoid tissue. The ratio of men to women in terms of frequency of occurrence is 1.4:1. It manifests itself as a sudden enlargement of lymph nodes, difficulty breathing, cough, low-grade fever, heavy sweats at night, sudden weight loss and loss of appetite. More often diagnosed after 50 years.

Tobacco and alcohol

Reduces absorption, impairs the production of digestive enzymes, leads to atrophy of the gastrointestinal tract, increases oxygen starvation of tissues, impairing the absorption of nutrients.

Alcoholism is not only atrophic gastritis. But also chronic pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis, intestinal dysfunction. All of these are excellent prerequisites for progressive weight loss.

Weight loss in teenagers

The reasons for sudden weight loss in teenagers include the following:

Malabsorption

This syndrome is accompanied by impaired absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. In this case, enzymatic breakdown of food occurs, but nutrients are not absorbed into the bloodstream. Thus, the teenager’s body lacks the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates necessary for its further growth and development, and the teenager begins to rapidly lose body weight.

Malabsorption is not an independent disease, but a syndrome accompanying a number of diseases: inflammatory processes intestines, syndrome of excessive growth of intestinal microflora, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The pathology is manifested by the following symptoms: frequent bowel movements, up to 6 times a day, polyfecal matter or a significant volume of feces, constant thirst and dry mouth, dry skin and hair, there are particles of undigested food in the feces, stomatitis, muscle atrophy.

Worm infestations

Helminths affect not only children and adolescents, but also adults. But the risk of helminthiasis in adolescents is much higher (attending school, lack of personal hygiene, consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits, close contact with animals).

Symptoms depend on the type of helminthiasis, but constant steady loss of body weight should suggest a helminthic infestation. Signs of the most common helminthiasis are itching of the anal area, increasing at night, abdominal pain, nausea, frequent loose stools, possible skin itching, and rash.

Hormonal storms

IN adolescence There are constant surges and declines in certain sex hormones, which can provoke both sudden weight loss and, on the contrary, sudden weight gain. In addition, hormonal disorders are accompanied by the appearance of acne, oily seborrhea, unstable psyche (from aggression to tearfulness), and irregular menstruation in girls.

Energy drinks

Used in a manner similar to chronic stress with constant activation of the adrenaline-noradrenal system and cortisol, which promotes faster protein breakdown. Caffeine and similar substances disrupt sleep and keep a person in a constantly wound up state, similar to hyperthyroidism.

Losing weight is not an easy task, however, anyone can lose it if they want. Knowledge of what happens to the body during this period will undoubtedly help you achieve the best results.

Understanding the chemical processes that occur during weight loss will prevent disappointment, keep you from “cheating” due to hunger and insufficient calories, protect you from suffering due to hormonal changes and energy level in the body.

1. Cortisol levels increase

One of the many things that happens with weight loss that people don't even think about is the stress it puts on the body. It can especially affect hormone production if you are not careful.

And although doctors prescribe stress-relieving medications to patients who are losing weight, they do not help many.

Your health will determine whether your levels of cortisol, a hormone that protects the body from stress, increase when losing weight.

Hormones have a direct impact on all body functions. In turn, their production is affected by how you eat and how active you are. This process is very difficult to control, so it is important to eat in a way that prevents excess cortisol.

To reduce stress, engage in gentler physical activities such as yoga, walking, or hiking. These are great workouts that can lower cortisol levels in the blood, as well as promote calorie burning and weight loss.

Your diet should consist of protein, healthy fats, low-glycemic starches, and leafy greens.

Controlling your blood sugar levels is also very important when losing weight.

High cortisol levels lead to stress, overeating and weight gain. To avoid this, eat healthy and choose gentle workouts.

2. You lose water first.

When you start following a diet, the extra pounds usually come off quickly at first. But then this process slows down, and this is due to the loss of water.

At first, you can quickly lose a sufficient amount due to water loss. However, further weight loss will proceed at a slower pace.

Losing excess water is not a bad thing as it will help get rid of puffiness and swelling! But in the future, you should not be upset because the weight loss process begins to slow down.

3. Fats accumulate in your body

With any diet, when fewer and fewer calories are coming in, the body's response will be a rapid accumulation of fat. Drastically cutting down on calories can make it difficult to lose weight.

The best way to combat such problems is to exercise moderately and consume at least 1,500 calories per day.

Some people don't count calories and just eat moderate amounts. healthy food so as not to feel acute hunger. This helps cope with increased appetite and gradually prepares the body for limited food consumption.

4. You will need more sleep.

Losing weight actually leads to loss of strength. Don't fight the need for rest while losing weight! Instead, rest as much as your body needs. This will relieve tension. Plus, as long as you stick to your intense training plan, there's no reason to feel guilty about taking extra rest. Of course, this doesn't mean you have to lie on the couch all day!

During weight loss, the body is under stress, so it needs to restore strength and replenish energy.

First of all, make it a rule to sleep at least 8 hours a day, and also find time every day for meditation or a short 20-minute rest.

5. You become irritable

Losing extra pounds can often be accompanied by a bad mood, especially if you love sweets, junk food and fast food. Your body will be deprived of the foods it is accustomed to. But don't worry - everything will return to normal when balance is established in the body.

It has been proven that the consumption of refined and processed foods is often addictive and addictive, like a drug. This is especially true for sugar. You can no longer do without such food, and when it is not there, you behave like a capricious child! Believe me, this will soon pass and you will no longer suffer from mood swings and hunger.

Remember to eat more protein, greens and healthy fats - this will help suppress your appetite and calm your raging hormones.

6. Sleep quality may deteriorate

Weight loss can change the quality of your sleep, which can lead to overeating. If you limit your calorie intake, you may have trouble falling asleep.

To avoid this, eat something heartier for dinner to curb hunger, or drink a glass of almond milk before bed - it's rich in calcium and essential fats, which calm an agitated brain and help you fall asleep. You can sweeten it with stevia or add cinnamon to lower your blood sugar. Believe me, after such a drink you will no longer want to raid the refrigerator because of hunger, which does not allow you to sleep!

To solve this problem, be sure to do strength exercises or bodyweight training, such as yoga. This will ensure recovery and growth muscle mass. Developed muscles help burn fat, have a beneficial effect on metabolism, and support the skeletal system in in good condition, prevents osteoporosis and atrophy.

Don't be afraid that your body will look pumped up. It will simply take on a toned appearance if you exercise several times a week. strength exercises or regularly practice Downward-Facing Dog.

It's important to eat right every day to prevent low metabolism and unnecessary stress.

Eating too few calories can stall weight loss. Therefore, if you want to lose it, eat enough and only healthy foods.

Limit starch and sugar intake for proper hormone function and best results.

If you've recently lost weight, has anything unexpected happened to your body? If you decide to go on a diet, what makes you anxious?

Stress follows us at every step. work and rest, a strong emotional shock can contribute to weight loss, but, as a rule, we are talking about two to three kilograms, which are soon restored. But if we are talking about something significant without obvious reasons, then it is necessary to find out why does a person Yes, because this can be caused by serious diseases.

The reason to see a doctor is the loss of 4.5-5 kilograms in 6 months.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which there is high level glucose in the blood due to the body not producing enough insulin or not responding to insulin. Sudden weight loss is a symptom of type 1 diabetes. Other signs include frequent urination, thirst, extreme hunger, fatigue, slow healing of wounds and cuts, and a tingling sensation.

Depression

Depression is a deep emotional disorder in which a person is haunted by feelings of anger, melancholy, and emptiness for weeks, or even months. Indeed, in such a state a person literally melts before our eyes, refuses to eat, and sleeps poorly. Typically, weight is restored once the underlying depression is resolved.

Hyperthyroidism

The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate metabolism, such as heart rate and digestion. A thyroid hormone called calcitonin controls calcium levels in the blood. If it works too actively, then an excessive amount of hormones is produced. This condition is called. In addition to sudden weight loss, hot flashes, mood swings, fatigue, and decreased libido are also observed.

Addison's disease

Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the intestinal walls. A person experiences severe pain in the intestines. The stool is liquid and mixed with blood. This process is accompanied by a sharp and significant weight loss.

Weight loss also accompanies such severe and serious diseases as cancer and AIDS. However, the symptoms of these diseases are quite extensive and are not the primary symptom.

The incubation period for the development of AIDS can last from 3 weeks to 5 years, or even more. For homosexuals and children born from infected mothers, this time period is significantly shortened. The virus multiplies in a healthy body so actively that antibodies to HIV are detected 1-2 months after infection.

A Brief History of AIDS

The widespread spread and impossibility of curing acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome has given society a new problem, referred to as the plague of the 20th century. Its danger lies in the fact that the nature of the disease remains not fully understood. Only one thing is known for sure - AIDS is viral in nature.

Where did this misfortune come from? For the first time, an incomprehensible disease was discussed in the late 50s of the last century, when a resident of Congo, one of the countries of West Africa, died. In the process of analyzing his medical history, scientists of that time identified it as the first recorded case of a disease of unknown nature and considered it a consequence of a rare form.

The primary form of AIDS is called onco-AIDS, and it manifests itself as Kaposi's sarcoma and brain lymphoma.

A couple of decades later, homosexuals in the USA and Sweden, as well as heterosexuals in Haiti and Tanzania, began to turn to specialists with signs of the same disease. American experts have identified over 400 carriers dangerous virus. Due to the fact that most of the patients were homosexuals, the new disease was called “homosexually transmitted immunodeficiency.”

How does AIDS get infected?

In a healthy person, AIDS can occur as a result of contact with the biological fluids of a patient - blood and sperm. The birth of AIDS patients is explained by their infection through the maternal placenta during. Infection of healthy babies can occur when.

In everyday life, infection conditions can be created by using one toothbrush, through razors and other personal items. The disease is not transmitted by airborne droplets or fecal-oral routes.

The artificial route of transmission of AIDS is as follows:
therapeutic and diagnostic manipulations;
endoscopic procedures;
organ and tissue transplantation;
artificial insemination;
administering injections with a non-sterile syringe;
tattooing in unsanitary conditions.

The risk group consists of the following categories of the population: drug addicts who inject themselves with one syringe, prostitutes and homosexuals who neglect to use a condom. In children, AIDS can occur after contact with a sick mother.

Why is AIDS dangerous?

The immunodeficiency virus gradually affects human body for 10-12 years, without revealing himself in any way. In most cases, patients do not take even the initial signs seriously, considering them symptoms of another cold.

Significant symptoms of AIDS include prolonged pneumonia, unfounded weight loss, prolonged diarrhea and fever, and swollen lymph nodes.

Thus, it is not carried out in a timely manner, which is fraught with the onset of the final stage. The body affected by the virus turns into a base for the development of various infectious diseases.

Sources:

• AIDS: history of origin, spread, symptoms. Reference

Eat what you want and as much as you want, without knowing what it is gyms and grueling workouts, and at the same time losing weight - isn’t this the dream of every woman, and, probably, of many men who are dissatisfied with their figure?

However, this is not everyone’s cherished dream. There is quite large number people for whom weight loss is a problem, especially when five to seven kilograms are desired and long-awaited...

In addition, sudden weight loss in many cases can be a symptom of serious malfunctions in the body, a signal of the development of some disease.

If the weight ranges from plus 1-2 kilograms to minus 1-2 kilograms, this is within normal limits. However, if you lose more than 5% of weight, and you haven’t made any special changes to your diet and you haven’t experienced any nervous shocks, this should alert you.

Natural and understandable reasons for weight loss are:

• malnutrition,
• increased physical activity and its consequence – increased energy expenditure.

However, there are other reasons, not so “harmless”, which are worth talking about separately.

If you have been trying to gain the missing weight for a long time, using everything possible ways(five balanced meals a day, drinking regimen, regular cleansing of the body of toxins, etc.), but the desired kilograms still do not come, but, on the contrary, melt away, check if you have any of these seven reasons:

Seven reasons for weight loss

1. Depression. This is the most common cause of sudden weight loss. People who are depressed have different taste sensations. Whatever they eat, it doesn’t taste good to them, and accordingly, they have problems with their appetite. In addition to a depressive state or neurosis, an exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastritis, or, for example, is added. And the lack of appetite is also accompanied by discomfort after eating.

If you are apathetic, have a bad mood, slow reactions, and at the same time have a sharp weight loss, it is quite possible that you should consult a psychotherapist.

1. Hormonal disorders. In our body there are organs responsible for the production of the most important hormones: the thyroid gland, pancreas, pituitary gland and adrenal glands. The hormones they produce are responsible for the metabolism and how intense it will be. The more such hormones are produced, the faster exchange substances, which means that the body no longer has enough calories that it receives from food; the calories are burned too quickly. If there are problems with organs endocrine system, these problems begin to affect your weight.

A person may have an increased appetite, but if he suffers from type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) or hyperthyroidism, he will lose weight quickly. Other signs of the presence of these diseases, in addition to sudden weight loss, are: rapid pulse, weakness, mood problems, dry skin, frequent urination, constant feeling of thirst.

If these conditions are familiar to you, in mandatory you need to visit an endocrinologist who will prescribe blood tests for glucose, a general blood test, and thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, T4).

Tuberculosis also often leads to weight loss. The causative agent of the infection requires a significant expenditure of energy from the body to fight it, plus patients with tuberculosis often complain of problems with appetite. To weight loss, as a symptom of tuberculosis, you can add a prolonged cough with sputum, body temperature above 37° for a long time, night sweats and general weakness.

No matter how many obvious symptoms you discover, a visit to a specialist cannot be avoided. This could be an infectious disease specialist or a general practitioner. Fluorography and all kinds of tests are a common program for diagnosing and identifying the cause of problems.

1. Diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas. Diseases such as cholecystitis and pancreatitis can cause underweight. As a result of these diseases, the digestion process is disrupted; many nutrients are not absorbed by the body properly. In addition, people with such problems feel discomfort after eating, and may experience pain in the right hypochondrium, diarrhea, and the stool has a greasy sheen.

It is necessary to exclude fatty and spicy foods from the diet, and take food in small portions and often. You also need to visit a gastroenterologist, who, based on stool analysis and ultrasound of the organs, abdominal cavity will be able to tell you something specific.

1. Problems with the intestines and stomach. These can be atrophic gastritis and enterocolitis, ulcers and hepatitis, colitis and cirrhosis of the liver. The gastrointestinal mucosa atrophies, which leads to problems with digestion and absorption of nutrients. Of course, if the cells are starved, the body begins to lose weight. Bloating, heaviness in the abdomen and painful sensations, constipation or diarrhea – these are the unpleasant symptoms of these disorders.

Cells that lack vitamins and microelements are not able to fully perform their functions. Dry skin and the presence of... will tell you about this.

1. Cancer. There is such a term - cancer cachexia, in which a person not only loses a significant amount of weight, but also gets worse. general condition. The perception of taste does not change better side, appetite is almost completely absent. There is a disruption of metabolic processes in the body: with proper nutrition, both fat mass and muscle mass steadily decrease. Of course, and psychological factor present: a person who has learned his diagnosis begins to lose weight due to the onset and development of depression. Weight is also lost during chemotherapy.

With lymphoma and lymphogranulomatosis, one of the first symptoms is sudden weight loss. Other symptoms include: enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, groin and armpits, and these nodes are painless.

Leukemia also promotes weight loss.

If you feel constant weakness, get tired quickly, you have long time body temperature is higher than normal - such symptoms should not be taken lightly. Be sure to consult a general practitioner. And he will determine whether you need to see a hematologist or oncologist, where you will have to take blood tests, do an x-ray, abdominal tomography and chest cavity, biopsy or puncture (the type of examination depends on the identified disease).

1. Surgery or long-term illness.“Disease does not make a person beautiful” - we have known this truth for a long time. An exhausted appearance and weakness are accompanying physical problems. In this case, time and special therapeutic nutrition help, giving the body a large amount of calories and saturating the cells with nutrients.

Learn more about the reasons for weight loss in this video:

Taking care of your health is a vital necessity, and not a hobby that you do according to your mood. If you take care of your body and regularly engage in disease prevention, you will not only avoid possible diseases, but also stop the development of existing ones. Nothing could be more important in your home than a healthy family. The body itself is capable of recovering, it only sometimes needs help in this. And then the problem of sudden weight loss will cease to exist.

For breakfast, porridge with butter, for lunch, borscht with sour cream, schnitzel with potatoes, a piece of cake at night. With a minimum of physical activity, you lose weight. Weight fluctuations of one to three kilograms may not be noticed, but if you have quickly lost more than five percent of your body weight without dieting, it’s time to see a doctor. Rapid weight loss may be a sign of a serious illness.

Losing weight: melting muscles

Of course, weight fluctuations of 1-3 kg can be ignored; most often they are caused by changes in water and electrolyte balance, accumulation and loss of fluid. But if you quickly and without dieting have lost 5% of your body weight, you should consult a doctor and jointly analyze the reasons for the situation.

Weight loss is the result of a lack of nutrients. A signal that the body begins to consume its own proteins, fats and carbohydrates to provide energy and maintain vital functions. . At the initial stage, weight loss is associated with the loss of fat mass, then the muscles begin to “melt” and other protein tissues, metabolism changes, functional and structural changes occur in organs, and diseases develop.

Depression is the most common reason for weight loss

Depression is a mental disorder manifested by a sharp and persistent decrease in mood, motor retardation, and a negative perception of reality and one’s own personality. One of the signs of depression is impaired taste perception, which results in decreased appetite and sudden weight loss. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the disease contributes to the development of gastritis and other diseases of the digestive system, accompanied by abdominal discomfort.

What to do if you notice signs of depression? Without delay, consult a doctor. Anyone. Start with a therapist. Depression is difficult to cope with on your own, but before drug treatment and she can’t resist psychotherapy . In its advanced form, depression can lead to exhaustion and the emergence of suicidal thoughts.

Hormonal disorders as a factor in weight loss

Surely you have heard about the leading role of the hormonal system in the functioning of the human body, in particular in their influence on metabolic processes. Disorders of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, thyroid and pancreas can lead to intensification of metabolism and fast weight loss. For example, patients with hyperthyroidism, along with anxiety, excitability, rapid heartbeat, dry skin, as a rule, have insufficient body weight with a sharply increased appetite.

What to do? Run to an endocrinologist and take a biochemical blood test and a blood test for hormones of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, and thyroid gland.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract lead to weight loss

This list includes, first of all, celiac disease, enterocolitis, atrophic gastritis - that is, diseases accompanied by impaired absorption of nutrients. Inflammatory and atrophic processes occurring in the digestive tract lead to disruption of food digestion, and the accompanying abdominal pain, flatulence, constipation, and diarrhea discourage the desire to eat. An increasing deficiency of vitamins and microelements leads to dry skin, brittle and hair loss, thinning nails, and bleeding gums.

What to do if weight loss is accompanied by abdominal discomfort and signs of hypovitaminosis? Contact and get examined. Only treatment of the underlying disease will allow you to return to normal weight.

Diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas as a factor in weight loss

Chronic diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas go hand in hand. The reason for this is the proximity of the excretory ducts of these organs, causing a disruption in the flow of their enzymes into the intestines. Lack of digestive juices leads to insufficient breakdown of food and the occurrence of nutritional deficiencies in the body, despite adequate nutrition.

Diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas are often accompanied by pain in the upper abdomen, changes in stool, and the appearance of a fatty film on the surface of stool.

What to do if you suspect the cause of weight loss is a disease of the biliary system and pancreas? Contact a gastroenterologist for a full examination and treatment. Enzyme preparations will help normalize digestion.

Causes of weight loss such as viral hepatitis or HIV cannot be ruled out; moreover, weight loss sometimes becomes the first symptom of the disease.

Another infectious cause of weight loss is tuberculosis. In addition to the fact that due to intoxication, patients lose their appetite, fighting infection requires enormous energy expenditure, and the body takes it from its own reserves. Frequent coughing, constant low-grade body temperature, sweating, and weakness should suggest tuberculosis and become a reason for an emergency examination.

Helminth infections, despite popular belief, rarely lead to significant weight loss. Exceptions are cases when the number of helminths “goes off scale”, and their presence causes intoxication and digestive disorders.

Malignant neoplasms - causes of weight loss

There is such a thing as cancer cachexia - a condition of sudden weight loss caused by a malignant tumor. In most cases, doctors encounter it in the later stages of cancer development; with tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, this condition develops earlier.

Patients suffer from intoxication, their appetite is disrupted, and taste sensations change. A rapidly growing tumor requires huge amount nutrients, as a result of which healthy tissues of the body begin to experience a lack of them. In addition, the substances secreted by the tumor have a toxic effect on the body’s tissues, slowing down metabolic processes in them and leading them to atrophy. As a result, with normal nutrition, a cancer patient begins to lose weight, and loses not only fat, but also muscle mass.

The presence of constant weakness and low-grade fever, combined with unmotivated weight loss, should be a reason to consult a doctor. Start with , if necessary, he will refer you to an oncologist. In this situation, only comprehensive treatment will help.