Endocrine Disruptions
Noticeable loss of body mass is a frequent consequence of metabolic and hormonal disorders. An excess or deficiency in certain hormones leads to changes in the metabolic rate. Most often, the body proportions don't change, and the weight loss is uniform.
The main reasons for weight loss related to the endocrine system include:
Hyperthyroidism. This health condition occurs when the thyroid produces too much triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and calcitonin.
Symptoms: hypertrophy of the thyroid gland, rapid heart rate, irritability, hypersensitivity to heat, excessive sweating, finger tremor, weakness in the leg muscles, poor hair, nails, and skin, watery eyes, shortness of breath, menstrual disorders in women.
Diabetes. In type I diabetes, the pancreas does not produce the necessary quantity of insulin (which is necessary for glucose uptake). To dispose of excess glucose, the body starts to remove it with urine, losing water and nutrients, which leads to weight loss.
Symptoms: excessive hunger, weakness, dizziness, frequent urge to urinate, the smell of acetone from the mouth.
Hypopituitarism. When the pituitary gland stops producing hormones or reduces its output, it leads to metabolic disorders and provokes rapid weight loss. The fats are broken down faster, muscle proteins are destroyed, and the operation of the internal body organs is disrupted.
Symptoms: muscle weakness, chilliness, dry, saggy, and thinning skin, hair loss, dull and brittle hair.
Problems with gastrointestinal tract
The gut is responsible for transporting nutrients into the blood, which later enter the body cells. Any inflammations or pathologies of the lining of the gut deprives the body of nutrition and nutrients. Often, the inflammations of the lining are caused by chronic gastritis, enteritis, colitis, and celiac disease.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation. The lack of vitamins and microelements also causes dry skin, brittle nails, anemia, and bleeding gums.
Viruses
Weight loss can be caused by dangerous viral or infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis type C, and HIV.
Symptoms: In the case of tuberculosis, the patients have increased body temperature above 98.6 °F for a prolonged time, cough with phlegm, night sweats, and general weakness. Hepatitis type C and HIV are not as easy to notice, as these conditions don't show pronounced symptoms for a long time. The only noticeable symptom of HIV, which should put you on alert, is unending diarrhea that continues for a long time and leads to weight loss.
Parasites
The presence of parasites, such as lamblia, helminths, etc., can be another reason for rapid weight loss.
Symptoms: nausea, upset stomach, bloating, fever, and skin rashes.
Pancreatobiliary system damage
In pathologic conditions of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas, the larger part of food is not digested or absorbed by the small intestine.
Symptoms: heaviness and abdominal pain, flatulence, continuous nausea, stool disorder.
Depression
Individuals suffering from depression completely lose interest in everything around them, lose appetite and struggle to taste food. They also can lose 10–15 % of their initial body mass. Another common symptom is sleeping 14–15 hours per day and still feeling tired after waking up.
Symptoms: pale and dry skin, hair loss, flaking fingernails, constant fatigue.
Other causes of weight loss such as oncological disorders, joint diseases, degenerative neurological processes, and cardiological pathology are much less frequent.
Time for a check-up
Those who lose more than 5 % of body mass in 6–12 months without trying to do so should consult a general practitioner. He or she will schedule a series of medical tests to identify the nature of the problem based on diagnostic results as well as recommend a specialist for further treatment.
In most cases, the tests include general and biochemical blood tests, endocrine testing, and ultrasounds of the abdominal cavity and thyroid gland.
