Overview

Unintentional weight loss is when you lose weight without changing your diet or exercise routine. It can be a sign of stress or a serious illness. See a GP just in case.

Causes of unintentional weight loss

Unintentional weight loss has many different causes.

It might be caused by a stressful event like a divorce, losing a job, or the death of a loved one. It can also be caused by malnutrition, a health condition or a combination of things.

Some causes of unintentional weight loss include:

• mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• problems with digestion, such as coeliac disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• other health conditions, such as an overactive thyroid, type 2 diabetes or heart failure

Sometimes weight loss can be caused by cancer. It's important to get it checked if you're losing weight without trying.

See a GP if:

• you keep losing weight without changing your diet or exercise routine

Treatment for unintentional weight loss

Treatment for unintentional weight loss depends on what's causing it.

A GP will ask about your health and may arrange some tests or scans.

Depending on the possible cause, they may:

• advise you about things you can do to help, such as ways to reduce stress
• recommend treatment for any condition that's causing you to lose weight
• refer you to a specialist