The word “weight loss”, similar to “fat-burning” and many other similar terms, implying a decrease in body weight (usually due to the fat component), is generally associated with something useful, healthy, correct, and necessary for everyone. So, usually, weight loss is a state of health, which directly correlates with obesity in a person and affects his life quality and duration. Therefore, when we talk about weight loss in overweight people, we are indeed talking about weight loss’s positive aspects.
But does it happen when weight loss is not a reason to rejoice but a dangerous symptom? When does a low number on the scale become an alarming indicator and a reason to check your health? Is there any
dangers of losing weight too fast?
In some scenarios, there are dangers of losing weight too fast, and is considered an alarming indicator for the person when it happens.
Pavel Baranov, a specialist in the field of nutrition, endocrinology, and psychology, member of the Russian Association of Endocrinologists, member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and author of many popular articles in the field of sports medicine confirms it in one of his interviews.
Let’s take a look at what can happen to health, because of which a person’s weight can collapse in a short time.
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Malnutrition
According to modern research, more than 50% of the world’s population is undernourished. This means that such people are not getting the nutrients they need in the right amount. The reasons are different, from economic to geographical. If malnutrition continues long enough, it can significantly impact a person’s health, including severe weight loss. Of course, the best way to overcome this is to eat a balanced diet with enough protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Unfortunately, such food is not available to everyone. And many of those who still have access to it does not care what and when they eat.
Loss of muscle mass
Loss of muscle mass begins at about 40 years of age and progresses much faster after 75. Preventing the development of such a condition will be both the consumption of a sufficient amount of calories (including maintaining the protein norm of 0.7 g / kg and above), and maintaining physical activity at any age. Western countries are often a positive example of this because it is not so difficult to meet men and women who are well over 70 going in for sports there.
Hyperthyroidism
Unexplained weight loss can indicate that a person has a thyroid disorder called hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, which causes the thyroid gland to overproduce hormones. Sometimes a person may not be aware of such a disease and not take any of the measures necessary to prevent its development. Weight loss will typically be a combination of symptoms, including a rapid heart rate, heat intolerance, hair loss, and insomnia. If a person suspects such a violation, he should undergo a diagnosis of the thyroid gland’s state from an endocrinologist.
Peptic ulcer
Unexplained weight loss can sometimes be one sign of an ulcer.
Stomach ulcers are local mucosal defects that develop on the inside of the stomach and in the upper part of the small intestine.
Since the main symptom of peptic ulcers is abdominal pain, they often cause a decrease in appetite. Lifestyle modification combined with prescribed treatment is the best way to get rid of this problem. It is necessary to contact a gastroenterologist in such a situation.
Cancer
Severe weight loss can be one of the symptoms of cancer. Some types of cancer, such as leukemia, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast, and colon cancer, often lead to significant weight loss. Some cancers increase resting metabolism, which means the body burns more calories, while others can produce inflammation-provoking proteins that can lead to weight loss. Treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy often cause decreased appetite and can lead to side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and mouth ulcers, preventing you from eating. All of this also affects weight loss.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is usually associated with obesity, but weight loss can also be an unexpected symptom of this condition. When the body does not use insulin properly, glucose transport for further conversion into energy can also be disrupted. The internal system can begin to use fat and muscle to function, leading to a decrease in total body weight. It will be essential to consult an endocrinologist and a nutritionist as early as possible because the development of type 2 diabetes is much easier to prevent than to deal with its consequences. Type 1 diabetes, in turn, is an autoimmune disease with which a person is forced to live their whole life.
Parasites
Tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms – thousands of people pick up these and other parasites every year, either from their pets or due to lack of hygiene when eating and drinking. Parasites absorb nutrients in the body and multiply, filling more space in our body and devouring more and more of its resources. This can lead to decreased appetite and weight loss, and the person may not even be aware of anything. It can take weeks and months, and sometimes years, for parasites to manifest themselves, which is the importance of timely diagnosis. Several analyzes and tests can help cope with this problem.
Depression
This mental disorder can appear in a variety of ways, including weight loss. A person who is depressed often becomes so immersed in his problems and disconnects from the outside world that, in principle, he practically ceases to eat. Although there is no single cause of depression, many cases can be effectively treated with psycho- and drug therapy. As a rule, a multidisciplinary approach in consultation with a psychologist/psychotherapist and a psychiatrist gives positive results.
HIV and AIDS
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, also known as AIDS, is a chronic, potentially life-threatening illness caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV can either make it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients or put a person into a state of depression, leading to malnutrition and decreased appetite.HIV / AIDS can also increase the risk of developing infections that cause weight loss, either because of decreased appetite or when eating becomes painful.
Scientists warn: active use of gadgets can cause overeating.
The experiment proved that the habit of keeping the phone in hand is harmful to health and shape.
Alcoholism. Alcohol intoxication affects people in different ways, someone starts to eat more and more, and someone, on the contrary, loses their appetite. But this is the case if we are talking about healthy people. Alcoholism, on the other hand, can lead to the fact that a person will lose a significant amount of weight due to a false sense of satiety, which he will constantly feel due to alcohol abuse. Besides, alcoholism can lead to peptic ulcer disease, which also causes weight loss. People with this disease are also often malnourished because they usually prefer alcohol to a balanced dinner. Of course, as in other cases, it is necessary to get rid of this problem with a team of professionals.
In addition to everything that we have analyzed, many other problems and pathologies can manifest themselves in the form of a person losing a certain percentage of body weight. Chronic heart failure, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, dementia, Crohn’s disease, Addison’s disease, Sjogren’s disease, achalasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, etc. – all these pathologies, among other symptoms, can manifest themselves in the form of weight loss.
This once again reminds of the importance of timely diagnosis, the need for an anxious attitude to one’s health, and that any acquired disease is much easier and more correct to prevent than treating it when it becomes severe. It is also essential to understand when weight loss is considered a normal condition and a dangerous sign to one’s health.
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