Exploring the Causes of Extreme Body Fat Loss

Extreme fat loss transformations are not only unrealistic, but they’re also dangerous for your body. Whether the cause is diet-related or medical, extreme weight loss can lead to severe symptoms like nutritional deficiency.

Unexplained weight loss can have many causes, including: the following. If you have one of these conditions, it’s important to get treatment right away.

1. Dehydration

A lack of water is a common cause of extreme body fat loss. Water is essential for the metabolism of fats, and dehydration negatively affects your body’s ability to burn calories.

Most fitness experts emphasize the importance of staying hydrated, and it is a simple and cost-effective way to boost your weight loss efforts. Hydration may help increase thermogenesis, the process that helps burn extra calories, and it can also support fat-burning by promoting lipolysis at the cellular level.

Everyone loses water throughout the day through talking, breathing, sweating and peeing, but most people are able to replenish these fluid levels. However, dehydration can occur when these fluid losses exceed your ability to replace them. This is commonly the case in hot and humid weather, with exercise or a fever, while vomiting or having diarrhea, and when certain health conditions, such as diabetes, lead to increased urination.

The classic signs of dehydration include thirst, dry mouth and sunken eyes. Extreme fatigue and an inability to concentrate are other symptoms. In athletes, a lack of water can lead to dark urine and decreased sweat production. In addition, a lack of water can inhibit muscle growth by slowing down the metabolism and causing muscles to break down more easily. In one study, researchers found that even mild dehydration can reduce bench press strength by 1.5%.

2. Illness

Unexplained weight loss may be a clue that something is wrong. A doctor should examine a person and ask questions about their eating habits and other health problems. They can also use blood or imaging tests to help find the cause of the problem.

Cancer, for example, can cause involuntary weight loss by disrupting appetite-regulating hormones or causing muscle wasting. Inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can also lead to unexplained weight loss because the inflammation in the joints and the digestive tract interferes with proper nutrient absorption.

A bacterial infection called Giardiasis, which is caused by a parasite that lives in the small intestines, can also be a cause of unexplained weight loss. This condition makes it hard for the body to get nutrients from food because it prevents the intestines from absorbing fat and protein. A doctor can treat the condition with medication and dietary changes.

A psychiatric condition called anorexia nervosa can also be a cause of unexplained low weight because people with this disorder are afraid to gain weight and restrict their calories. They may also use laxatives or enemas to control their weight.

3. Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex and devastating mental illnesses characterized by unhealthy, obsessive food or dieting behavior. They affect people of all ages, genders, and races and include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a fear of fatness or an obsession with weight, shape or body size that negatively affects one’s self-image and disproportionately impacts one’s self-worth. It is the most common and life-threatening eating disorder. People with anorexia nervosa lose significant amounts of weight due to starvation and experience medical complications that require medical supervision including low heart rate, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and osteoporosis.

In bulimia nervosa, individuals feel out of control when they eat and often engage in “compensatory behaviors” to prevent weight gain like fasting, excessive exercise, vomiting, or laxative misuse. These behaviors may lead to rare but serious, life-threatening medical complications such as esophageal rupture and bowel or stomach ulcers.

ARFID, or avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, is characterized by extreme and persistent eating restrictions that interfere with normal daily functioning. ARFID can occur in infants or children and is more common in affluent societies. It is also a more serious condition than anorexia or bulimia and requires immediate medical attention. Treatments for eating disorders include nutritional counseling and monitoring, psychotherapy, and sometimes medicines such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs.

4. Depression

Depression is a mental health condition that causes severe mood lows and other emotional and physical symptoms, including weight fluctuations. During particularly low periods, people may have trouble eating or experience a reduction in appetite that can result in weight loss.

Depression can also affect your energy levels, making it difficult to stay active and eat regular meals. This can cause your body to burn up its stored fat for fuel, leading to unexplained weight loss.

If you’re experiencing depression, the changes in your appetite and energy level could be a sign of underlying health issues that need to be addressed. Talking with a health care provider or counselor about your depression can help you find ways to manage these symptoms and improve your overall well-being.

Conclusion

 

Unexplained weight loss can be a symptom of certain medical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Some women are at a higher risk for these conditions than men, which can make them more likely to experience unexplained weight loss. In addition, certain types of intestinal parasites—such as giardia and cryptosporidia—can cause unexplained weight loss. If you suspect you have one of these parasites, a healthcare professional will test your blood for antibodies and determine the proper treatment. This can usually be done at your primary care physician’s office.

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