If your weight suddenly decreases without reducing food intake or increasing physical activity, it could be a sign of an illness. What might it be?

 

Hyperthyroidism

 

If hyperthyroidism occurs, metabolism becomes excessively active, leading to rapid weight loss. When metabolism is overactive, even if you consume enough food, it is quickly metabolized, resulting in a reduction of fat and muscle. Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland secretes an excessive amount of hormones, accompanied by symptoms such as increased appetite, persistent thirst, muscle weakness, and mood changes.

 

Diabetes mellitus

 

If your food intake has increased but your weight is decreasing, you may suspect type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by the destruction of beta cells, leading to no insulin secretion. When insulin in the body is insufficient, the body cannot use glucose as an energy source, resulting in the burning of fat and muscle instead, which causes weight loss.

◇Inflammatory Bowel Disease

 

If fatigue persists and unintended weight loss occurs, it may be a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory bowel disease is a condition characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis being the most representative. Intestinal inflammation prevents the absorption of nutrients from food consumed by the body, leading to weight loss and malnutrition. Additionally, symptoms such as bloody stool, fatigue, and anal bleeding may appear.

 

Cancer

 

A decrease in appetite and weight loss can be symptoms of various types of cancer, including lung cancer, colon cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Cancer cells consume proteins and carbohydrates in the body to grow, and during this process, muscle mass decreases and energy is depleted, leading to weight loss. Among cancers, if tumors develop in the digestive organs such as stomach cancer, digestion and absorption of food become impaired, causing rapid weight loss.

 

◇Mental health also has an impact

 

Meanwhile, mental health issues besides physical illnesses can also cause unintentional weight loss. Stressful situations can affect the body in various ways, including ▲loss of appetite ▲indigestion ▲sleep disturbances ▲gastric spasms. Prolonged stress leads to the accumulation of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline in the body. Physical symptoms caused by stress can suppress appetite and ultimately lead to weight loss.

 

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My friend had a thyroid disease.

They said I lost a bit more weight than I thought.

 

Especially women are said to be more susceptible to thyroid diseases.

They say that fatigue and stress are the biggest causes.

 

I think mental health is related to weight loss.

If something needs your attention, about 1kg just naturally drops off.