Weight loss
Sudden weight loss can be a shock, especially if it’s unexplained or unintentional. Some people would be delighted to have lost weight without trying, but losing a significant amount fast can be a cause for concern.
This page will help you learn:
- When to speak to a medical professional
- Signs of a gastrointestinal problem
- Common causes
- Tests we might recommend
- Treatment options
If you think you are experiencing a gastrointestinal issue, book an appointment with one of our specialists.
When is weight loss a concern?
Losing over 5% of your body weight in 6 to 12 months is a clear indicator that you should speak to your doctor. You may want to book an urgent appointment if this weight loss occurs in less than 6 months. Always discuss a dramatic, unexpected weight change with your doctor.
There may be a cause, such as diet changes or increased stress, that you had not considered, but it may also require medical investigation. For example, if you have not changed your diet or exercise levels.
After your appointment, your doctor may recommend tests to look for potential causes or refer you to a stomach specialist if they suspect a gastrointestinal issue.
Causes
There are many reasons you might be losing weight without knowing why. While mental or physical health issues can cause it, we’ll discuss conditions affecting your physical health in this section.
Digestive problems:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Dysphagia (swallowing problems)
- Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE)
- Coeliac disease
- Peptic ulcer
- Achalasia
Certain medications can also affect your metabolism or appetite, meaning you burn more calories or eat less than usual. Both of which can cause weight loss without trying.
General health issues:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Neurological disorders, such as dementia
- Overactive or underactive thyroid
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Nutrition deficiencies
- Heart failure
- Muscle loss
- Diabetes
Your mental health
Some people lose weight as a side effect of depression, where they have lost their appetite or motivation to eat and cook. Other mental health conditions that can cause it include anxiety, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). If your doctor thinks a mental health condition is to blame, they may advise counselling.
Diagnosis
Identifying the cause will involve discussing your medical and your family’s medical history. We will need to know all the symptoms you are experiencing, how long for, and how severe they are. It may help to bring a list of symptoms or keep a diary to track the issue.
The recommended tests will depend on what we have discussed in your first appointment. Some we may perform during your consultation, and others we may need to schedule. Tests could include blood or stool tests, abdominal imaging scans, and endoscopy (upper, lower, or both).
We may perform additional tests if we suspect a specific condition. For example, if you have swallowing problems alongside weight loss, we may recommend a high-resolution oesophageal manometry test. Both symptoms with a sore throat could result in a 96-hour pH capsule (BRAVO) test.
On the other hand, if you experience blood in your poo, a change in bowel habits, such as diarrhoea or constipation, and abdominal pain, we might recommend bowel cancer screening. These symptoms do not mean you have cancer, as they overlap with various other more-common conditions, but it’s important to check as soon as you experience them.
Risk factors
Anyone can experience unexplained weight loss, but a few factors can raise your risk. As you age, the likelihood of developing medical conditions increases.
People over 65 have a higher risk of weight loss for many reasons. They also have a higher risk of bowel cancer. We are more likely to recommend bowel cancer screening if you are over 50.
Differences in men and women
Your risk for certain conditions may be higher depending on your sex. Men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) have a higher risk of endocarditis, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer.
Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) have an increased risk of COPD, an overactive thyroid, and RA.
Age can play a factor too. Men over 45 have a greater risk of ulcerative colitis. Women between 25 and 29, or over 35, are more likely to have Crohn’s disease.
Treatment
How we treat unintentional weight loss largely depends on your symptoms and the cause identified. We may start with lifestyle changes, such as diet changes or drinking protein shakes.
If we diagnose a medical condition, managing that effectively should help improve your weight. For example, treating achalasia and EoE can allow you to eat more food. Eating the right foods with coeliac disease allows you to absorb more nutrients and benefit from them.
Book an appointment
It can be scary to lose a lot of weight suddenly and without an explanation. As there are many possible causes – some more serious than others – you should speak to a medical professional about any unexpected weight changes.
If you suspect a gastrointestinal problem is causing your symptoms, book an appointment with one of our world-renowned specialists.