Causes

Unexplained weight loss has many causes, medical and nonmedical. Often, a combination of things results in a general decline in your health and a related weight loss. Sometimes a specific cause isn't found.

Usually, an unrecognized cancer will have other symptoms or abnormalities of laboratory tests, in addition to unexplained weight loss.

Potential causes of unexplained weight loss include:

• Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency)
• Amyloidosis (buildup of abnormal proteins in your organs)
• Cancer
• Celiac disease
• Changes in diet or appetite
• Changes in sense of smell
• Changes in sense of taste
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) exacerbation — worsening of symptoms
• Crohn's disease (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)
• Dementia
• Dental problems
• Depression (major depressive disorder)
• Diabetes
• Heart failure
• HIV/AIDS
• Hypercalcemia
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Medications
• Parkinson's disease
• Peptic ulcer
• Substance abuse (alcohol, cocaine, other)
• Tuberculosis
• Ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)