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Losing weight without dieting and sports: the main causes

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 07.06.2024

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Losing weight without dieting can be due to various factors. Here are some of the possible causes:

Physical activity: Increased physical activity can lead to weight loss. If you start exercising, working out at the gym, or just becoming more active, it can help reduce fat stores and increase muscle mass.
Lifestyle changes: Lifestyle changes such as increased stress levels, changes in sleep patterns, or changes in work and daily habits can affect appetite and food intake.
Medical Conditions: Some medical conditions can lead to involuntary weight loss, such as hyperthyroidism (increased thyroid function), diabetes, or other conditions that can alter metabolism.
Psychological factors: Stress, depression and anxiety can affect appetite and food intake. Some people may switch to irregular or reduced meals in response to psychological stress.
Changes in diet: Even if you are not on a strict diet, changes in your daily diet and food choices can affect your weight. For example, increasing your intake of healthier, lower-calorie foods can lead to weight loss.
Objective Causes: Sometimes weight loss can be due to medical reasons such as infectious diseases, parasitic infections or other gastrointestinal conditions.

Diseases that are accompanied by weight loss

Weight loss can be a symptom of various health conditions. Some of these include:

Hyperthyroidism: Increased thyroid activity leads to increased metabolism and consequent weight loss.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus: This type of diabetes is characterized by insufficient insulin production and excessive glucose utilization in the body, which can lead to weight loss.
Gastroenterologic Diseases: Diseases of the stomach, intestines, and other digestive system problems such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, celiac disease, and chronic colitis can cause loss of appetite and weight loss.
Cancer: Various cancers can be accompanied by weight loss due to decreased appetite and metabolism.
Infections: Severe infections such as tuberculosis and HIV infection can cause weight loss.
Psychological conditions: Stress, depression and anxiety can lead to changes in appetite and weight.
Thyroid disease: In addition to hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism (reduced thyroid activity) can also be accompanied by weight changes.
Kidney insufficiency: In chronickidney failure, there can be a loss of appetite and accumulation of waste products in the body, which affects weight.
Excessive use of drugs or alcohol: Substance dependence can cause loss of appetite and weight.
Psychogenic eating disorders: Uncontrolled conditions such as anorexia or bulimia can lead to severe weight loss.

If you notice involuntary and unexplained weight loss, it is important to see a doctor for an evaluation and to identify possible medical or psychological causes. Uncontrolled weight loss can be a symptom of a medical condition, and early medical attention can help identify and treat possible problems.