Weight loss - unintentional

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Unintentional weight loss is a decrease in body weight that is not voluntary. In other words, you did not try to loss the weight by dieting or exercising.

See: Intentional weight loss

Loss of weight; Losing weight without trying

There are many causes of unintentional weight loss. Some are listed below:

• AIDS
• Cancer
• Depression
• Diarrhea that is chronic (lasts a long time)
• Drugs, including amphetamines, chemotherapy drugs, laxatives (when abused), and thyroid medications
• Drug abuse
• Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia
• Hyperthyroidism
• Infection
• Loss of appetite
• Malnutrition
• Manipulative behavior (in children)
• Painful mouth sores, mouth braces, or a loss of teeth that prevent you from eating normally
• Smoking

Note: This list may not be all inclusive

Review Date: 02/20/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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