Weight loss

This is a very non-specific symptom. However, an acute weight loss may be indicative of a serious underlying pathology. Below is presented a scheme for thinking about acute weight loss.

Causes of acute weight loss include:

• insufficient calorie intake:
  • anorexia - associated with infection, malignancy and anorexia nervosa
  • dysphagia e.g. oesophageal carcinoma, oesophageal reflux
  • vomiting e.g. pyloric stenosis, hiatus hernia
    
    
• malabsorptive states:
  • chronic pancreatitis, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease
    
    
• high energy usage:
  • malignancy
  • thyrotoxicosis

Significant unintentional weight loss is defined as (1):

• unintentional loss of more than 5% of body weight over 6 to 12 months

Reference:

• NHS Choices. Unitentional weight loss (Accessed 29/12/2020).