Weight Loss Symptoms
Symptom Checker: Symptoms & Signs Index
Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Weight loss can be intentional, such as with dieting and exercise, or unintentional and be a manifestation of illness. Weight loss can result from a decrease in body fluid, muscle mass, or fat. An decrease in body fluid can come from medications, fluid loss, lack of fluid intake, or illnesses such as diabetes. A decrease in body fat can be intentially caused by exercise and dieting, such as for obesity. Weight loss is normal after pregnancy. The loss of weight and lack of nutrition associated with a chronic illness is referred to as cachexia. Unexplained, unintentional weight loss is often a result of illness and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.Health concern on your mind? Visit the Symptom Checker.
REFERENCE:
Fauci, Anthony S., et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2008.
Causes of Weight Loss
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- Surgery
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- Patient education
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Alcoholism Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as...learn more »In This ArticleAlcoholism Article- Alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts
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- Can an alcoholic just cut back or stop drinking?
- Is there a safe level of drinking?
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- What are the long-term physical and psychological effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism?
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Bulimia Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of secretive excessive eating (bingeing) followed by inappropriate...learn more »In This ArticleBulimia Article- What is bulimia?
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Cancer Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and...learn more »In This ArticleCancer Article- What is cancer?
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Cancer Risk Factors Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase...learn more »In This ArticleCancer Risk Factors Article- What are cancer risk factors?
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- How does the normal lung work?
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- What is chronic asthma?
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- What are the symptoms of COPD?
- How is COPD diagnosed?
- What treatment is available for COPD?
- Quitting cigarette smoking
- COPD Medications
- Bronchodilators
- Beta-agonists
- Anti-cholinergic agents
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Colon Cancer Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from...learn more »In This ArticleColon Cancer Article- Colon cancer facts
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Connective Tissue Disease Connective tissue disease is when the body's connective tissues come under attack, possibly becoming injured by inflammation....learn more »In This ArticleConnective Tissue Disease Article- What is a connective tissue disease?
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Dehydration Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged...learn more »In This ArticleDehydration Article- Dehydration facts
- What is dehydration?
- What causes dehydration?
- Dehydration pictures
- What are the signs and symptoms of dehydration?
- What about dehydration in children?
- How is dehydration diagnosed?
- How is dehydration treated?
- Can I treat dehydration at home?
- What are the complications of dehydration?
- How can dehydration be prevented?
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Dementia Dementia is a significant loss of intellectual abilities such as memory capacity, severe enough to interfere with social or...learn more »In This ArticleDementia Article- Dementia facts*
- Introduction to dementia
- What is dementia?
- What are the different kinds of dementia?
- Alzheimer's disease
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Depression Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one...learn more »In This ArticleDepression Article- Depression facts
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- What is diabetes?
- What is the impact of diabetes?
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- Type 1 diabetes
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- Why is blood sugar checked at home?
- What are the acute complications of diabetes?
- What are the chronic complications of diabetes?
- What can be done to slow diabetes complications?
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Diabetes Insipidus Diabetes insipidus is a condition in which the patient has frequent urination. Symptoms of diabetes insipidus include irritable,...learn more »In This ArticleDiabetes Insipidus Article- Diabetes insipidus facts*
- What is diabetes insipidus, and what are the symptoms of the condition?
- What is the difference between diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus?
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- For more information about diabetes insipidus
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Fitness Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of disease. Regular exercise can also reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety....learn more »In This ArticleFitness Article- The importance of physical activity and fitness
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- What are the components of physical fitness?
- Fitness terms
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Hodgkin's Disease Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the lymphatic system with symptoms that include unexplained, recurring fevers, unexplained...learn more »In This ArticleHodgkin's Disease Article- Hodgkin's lymphoma facts*
- What is Hodgkin's lymphoma?
- What are Hodgkin's lymphoma causes and risk factors?
- What are Hodgkin's lymphoma symptoms and signs?
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- Chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma
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- Stem cell transplantation for Hodgkin's lymphoma
- How do people get a second opinion for Hodgkin's lymphoma?
- Nutrition during cancer treatment
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV is a type of virus called a...learn more »In This ArticleHuman Immunodeficiency Virus Article- HIV facts
- What is the history of HIV, and when was HIV discovered?
- What tests are used in the diagnosis of HIV?
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- What happens after an exposure to the blood or genital secretions of an HIV-infected person?
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- Should patients with the flu- or mono-like illness of primary HIV infection be treated?
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- What are the thyroid hormones?
- Thyroid hormone regulation - the chain of command
- What causes hyperthyroidism?
- What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
- How is hyperthyroidism diagnosed?
- How is hyperthyroidism treated?
- What's best for you?
- Hyperthyroidism At A Glance
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Kidney Cancer There are several types of kidney cancer, including renal cell cancer (renal adenocarcinoma or hypernephroma), transitional cell...learn more »In This ArticleKidney Cancer Article- What are the kidneys?
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- What are kidney cancer causes and risk factor?
- What are kidney cancer symptoms and signs?
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- How is kidney cancer staging determined?
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- What happens after treatment for kidney cancer?
- What does the future hold in the field of kidney cancer?
- What resources are there for patients with kidney cancer?
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Leishmaniasis Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the bite of an infected sand fly. The most common types of leishmania infection are...learn more »In This ArticleLeishmaniasis Article- Leishmaniasis facts
- What is leishmaniasis?
- What are the different types of leishmaniasis?
- What causes leishmaniasis? How is leishmaniasis transmitted?
- What are risk factors for leishmaniasis?
- What are leishmaniasis symptoms and signs?
- How is leishmaniasis diagnosed?
- What is the treatment for leishmaniasis?
- What is the prognosis of leishmaniasis?
- Can leishmaniasis be prevented?
- Where can people get more information about leishmaniasis?
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Multiple Myeloma Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer that develops in plasma cells, the white blood cells that make antibodies. Symptoms include...learn more »In This ArticleMultiple Myeloma Article- What is multiple myeloma?
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- How is multiple myeloma diagnosed?
- What are multiple myeloma stages?
- What is the treatment for multiple myeloma?
- What are methods of treatment for multiple myeloma?
- What supportive care can patients with multiple myeloma require?
- What happens after treatment for multiple myeloma?
- What support is available for cancer patients?
- What other resources are available to multiple myeloma patients?
- Multiple Myeloma At A Glance
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Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system, a vital part of the body's immune system. Symptoms include swollen...learn more »In This ArticleNon-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Article- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma facts
- What is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
- What causes non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
- What are risk factors for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
- What are symptoms and signs of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
- How is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed?
- What are the types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and how is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma staging determined?
- What is the treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
- What is the prognosis and survival rates of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
- Where can people find more information about non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
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Obesity Obesity is the state of being well above one's normal weight. A person has traditionally been considered to be obese if they are...learn more »In This ArticleObesity Article- Obesity facts
- What is obesity?
- How common is obesity?
- What are the health risks associated with obesity?
- What causes obesity?
- What are other factors associated with obesity?
- How is body fat measured?
- What about weight-for-height tables?
- What is the body mass index (BMI)?
- Does it matter where body fat is located?
- What can be done about obesity?
- What is the role of physical activity and exercise in obesity?
- What is the role of diet in the treatment of obesity?
- What is the role of medication in the treatment of obesity?
- What about herbal fen/phen?
- What about meal substitutes, artificial sweeteners, and OTC products?
- What is the role of surgery in the treatment of obesity?
- How can patients choose a safe and successful weight-loss program?
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Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer has been called a "silent" disease because early...learn more »In This ArticlePancreatic Cancer Article- Pancreatic cancer facts
- What is the pancreas, and what is the function of the pancreas?
- What is cancer?
- What is pancreatic cancer?
- What are pancreatic cancer causes and risk factors?
- What are the symptoms and signs of pancreatic cancer?
- How is the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer made?
- How is pancreatic cancer staged?
- What is the treatment for resectable pancreatic cancer?
- What is the treatment for locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer?
- What is the treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer?
- What are side effects of pancreatic cancer treatment?
- What is the prognosis of pancreatic cancer?
- What research is being done on pancreatic cancer?
- Is complimentary or alternative therapy effective in pancreatic cancer treatment?
- Can pancreatic cancer be prevented?
- Where can people get support when coping with pancreatic cancer?
- Where can people find additional information about pancreatic cancer?
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Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's disease is a slowly progressive neurologic disease characterized by a fixed inexpressive face, a tremor at rest,...learn more »In This ArticleParkinson's Disease Article- What is Parkinson's disease?
- What causes Parkinson's disease?
- What genes are linked to Parkinson's disease?
- Who is at risk for Parkinson's disease?
- What are the symptoms of Parkinson's disease?
- What other conditions resemble Parkinson's disease?
- How is Parkinson's disease diagnosed?
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- Can Parkinson's disease be prevented?
- What is the prognosis for Parkinson's disease?
- Parkinson's Disease At A Glance
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- What is relapsing polychondritis?
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- What are symptoms and signs of relapsing polychondritis?
- How is relapsing polychondritis diagnosed?
- Can relapsing polychondritis be associated with other diseases?
- What medications are used to treat relapsing polychondritis?
- What is the long-term outlook (prognosis) for patients with relapsing polychondritis?
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Men (STDs in Men) Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are infections that are transmitted during any type of sexual exposure, including...learn more »In This ArticleSexually Transmitted Diseases in Men (STDs in Men) Article- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in men facts
- What are STDs and how can their spread be prevented?
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- Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)
- Syphilis
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
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- Hepatitis B
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Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea,...learn more »In This ArticleSleep Apnea Article- Sleep apnea facts
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- What is the treatment for stomach cancer?
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
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Thymoma Thymoma is an uncommon cancer of the thymus gland. Many thymomas are asymptomatic. When symptoms do occur, they include chest...learn more »In This ArticleThymoma Article- Thymoma facts
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- What are the stages of thymoma?
- What is the treatment for thymoma?
- What is the prognosis for thymoma?
- Can thymoma be prevented?
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Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Symptoms include weakness, fever,...learn more »In This ArticleTuberculosis Article- Tuberculosis facts
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- Is there a vaccine against tuberculosis?
- What is the treatment for tuberculosis?
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Other Causes of Weight Loss
- Bowel Obstruction
- Dental Problems
- Malabsorption
- Medications (both Prescription and Non-prescription)
- Infections (Parasites)
Symptoms & Signs A-Z List
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