Understanding Weight Loss: Causes, Health Implications & When to Seek Medical Advice

Body appearance, image and weight are ideas people are often concerned with to the point of obsession. Targeting the ideal body weight is essential for both utility and cosmetic purposes. Weight loss is used as an indicator to assess the effectiveness of your overall health regimen.

Identification

• Differentiate between healthy fluctuations in weight and excessive weight loss that may require medical attention. The Mayo Clinic defines unexplained weight loss as drastic 5-percent drops in weight that occur when the patient has no intention of doing so.

Diet

• Weight can be managed through dietary changes. Reducing calories and limiting exposure to saturated fats and sugars lead to weight loss. However, excessive weight loss may be due to malnutrition.

Exercise

• The National Institutes of Health indicates that physical activity speeds up metabolism to burn calories and consume stored fat, which translates into weight loss.

Aging

• Food consumption and muscle development naturally regress as individuals age through elderly life stages. Muscle mass usually decreases after age 35.

Disease

• Excessive weight loss is a signal of deteriorating health. Neuromuscular, gastrointestinal and mental disorders adversely affect muscle growth, digestion and appetite. Further, prescribed treatment for various ailments often leads to severe drops in weight.