We may be intrigued by how wonderful it would be if we could just lose weight by sitting and lazing around all day long. We may wish to shed weight drastically without having to work for it, and this is quite the wish every woman has fantasized about at some point or another. However,the reality of the matter is, unexplained weight loss is something you do not want to undergo. Unexplained weight loss, or the losing of weight in a drastic, consistent and persistent manner can very well be a symptom of some underlying disease or disorder, such as depression, Addison’s disease, cancer, AIDS and others.

Your body weight is measured in accordance to your age, overall intake of calories, overall health and your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Unexplained weight loss amounting to a few pounds is not much of a concern. But, if you experience unexplained weight loss of around 10 pounds or more, or 5% of your overall body weight, you should consult a doctor on an immediate urgent basis.

Here are some of the reasons of unexplained weight loss encoded and defined:

Gastrointestinal Health

One of the most established reasons of unexplained weight loss that has been looked into a lot by scientific research is that of gastrointestinal health issues. Stomach viruses may infect the organ, causing for unexplained weight loss. Most of these conditions are usually accompanied by others signs and symptoms that make diagnosing the condition easier, but some of these conditions may show no other recognizable symptoms at all. If you are experiencing unexplained weight loss along with the slightest of stomach aches or discomfort, be sure to visit a doctor as soon as possible.

Parasites

The stomach and the intestines can sometimes be invaded by parasites. These parasites may not cause you any other negative side effects or harm as per say, except for one thing: These parasites dwell in these organs leaching off the essential nutrients in the foods that we consume, leading to unexplained weight loss. You may be eating the same amount of food that you previously would, and gain no weight because of such parasitic activity brewing up in the body.

Addison’s disease

When your body ends up producing inadequate amounts of certain hormones that the adrenal glands are responsible for, it can lead to the development of Addison’s disease. During the disease, the body produces rather insufficient levels of cortisol along with a decreased amount of aldosterone as well, which can cause unexplained weight loss. Till the disorder is not diagnosed and the body keeps losing weight, Addison’s disease can qualify to be one of the reasons of unexplained weight loss.

Depression

Depression is a psychological disorder which eventually channels into physiological symptoms as well, and happens to be one of the deep-rooted reasons of unexplained weight loss. Depression promotes feelings of sadness and a loss of interest. One of the most major symptoms of depression is a loss of appetite which can lead to unexplained weight loss. Since depression is a chronic issue and needs treatment that stretches into the long run, it may keep facilitating unexplained weight loss till it’s diagnosed and treated for. Hence, treatment for illnesses such as depression should not be ignored, and handled first-handedly.

Celiac disease

Another reason of unexplained weight loss could be the symptoms of celiac disease. Celiac disease is a disease related to the digestive system and its onset is triggered by the consumption of gluten. This disease damages the inner walls of the small intestine, making absorption of nutrients difficult. The inability of the intestine to absorb these nutrients is what leads to the unexplained weight loss which people afflicted with the disease may experience.