Q: I am a 21 almost 22 year-old girl. Over the course of the past four months I have lost 11 pounds. I was 120 and went down to 109. This has scared me as I am not dieting and did not want to lose weight. I tried to eat things that are good for me, though I must admit I splurge sometimes in junk food. I’ve been under a lot of stress and need an answer asap. I would really like to know why you think I’m losing weight.
I’ve looked up thyroids and everything is about weight gain, not weight loss. I’ve looked at Dysbiosis. I will go to my doctor soon and just want to know what you think could be the culprit. I’m confused.
A: I received two very positive messages from your brief note. The first is that you investigated possible causes for your weight loss and as you may know, I heartily endorse education on the part of the patient or reader. The more a person knows, the better able he or she will be to understand what can transpire with a specific medical condition. The second is that you are to visit your doctor soon. Many individuals choose to self-diagnose which is fine in some instances but may be bad in others. Good for you.
There are a number of medical reasons for weight loss to occur including hyperthyroidism, depression, malnutrition, Crohn’s disease, Addison’s disease, stress, stepped-up exercise programs, and still more. Let’s consider a few of the possibilities.
Information available today generally zeros in on obesity and an inability to lose weight, not unintended weight loss. Along these lines, a recent report from nutritionists at UC Davis and the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Western Human Nutrition Research Center has made a connection between stress and weight loss. In part, they indicate “it is becoming clear that stress degrades our ability to make healthy food choices for long-term well-being” and that “knowledge of dietary guidelines is important but we also have to help people, from a very early age, find ways to manage stress and develop their capacity to choose long-term gain over short-term reward”.
For the most part, we try to eat well-balanced meals but once stress at home or in the workplace takes over, those good intentions go right out the window. We eat fast foods, junk foods, down energy drinks, grab a quick candy bar, visit the fast-food restaurant nearest us, and down our treasures. That takes care of a meal and we are no longer hungry. Or, we simply choose not to eat at all, resulting in a loss of weight.
Diabetes affects how the body utilizes blood sugar, the brain’s main source of fuel. Recent studies have found a correlation between type I and type II diabetes and low vitamin D levels.
Depression over the loss of a parent, beloved pet, good friend or for countless other reasons can cause some people to binge eat and gain a great deal of weight or to lose interest in food altogether, resulting in weight loss. Changes in appetite are common and are but a small part of a very large issue.
Celiac disease is an immune reaction to consuming gluten. The disorder can cause weight loss, abdominal pain following a meal, diarrhea, and more; however, some individuals will initially have no symptoms at all. The answer to this disorder is to completely eliminate gluten from a person’s diet.
Addison’s disease results when the body produces an inadequate amount of specific hormones produced by the adrenal glands. The disorder affects individuals of all ages and gender. Symptoms include muscle weakness, fatigue, nausea, low blood pressure readings, decreased appetite, and weight loss.
You don’t indicate your height and weight. Is your weight still within normal range for your age? This can be interpreted through a growth chart available free on the internet. Further, are you losing hair and has your menstrual cycle changed?
I could go on but you are on track for a visit to your physician who should take a history, perform a complete examination, perhaps do an EKG, definitely draw or place an order for lab work, and maybe more. Perhaps he or she will even have you see a nutritionist who can review your dietary preferences and make some suggestions. Until you get to the cause for your pronounced weight loss, you will be unable to reverse the situation. While waiting for your appointment, eat well, exercise, reduce your stress level, and get adequate sleep. Good luck.
