Why do children lose so much weight at a young age?
This can lead to the body burning fat and muscle for energy to make up for the loss of glucose. Eating disorders – Young children and teens sometimes try to control their weight and develop eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. Heart failure – Many heart failure patients live with unintentional weight loss.
Why does old age cause my cat to lose weight?
Wrong! Old age is not a disease! Old age does not cause feline weight loss, but old age can increase your cat’s risk of acquiring certain feline diseases or a number of problems that cause this illness symptom. But the age itself is not a reason for weight loss.
How to detect unintentional weight loss in older adults?
Monitoring for unintended weight loss, as detailed above, is probably the easiest way to screen for nutrition problems. Other red flags to take note of are: Loss of appetite. Decreased strength and/or ability to get around.
What causes unexplained weight loss in older people?
Even unexplained weight loss of less than 5 percent of body weight or 10 pounds may be the sign of a serious condition in older people. What are the causes of unexplained weight loss? Unexplained weight loss can be caused by conditions that range from mild to very serious. The causes can be physical or psychological, and include:
When is weight loss a bad sign for an older person?
Unexplained weight loss a bad sign for older people. After the age of 75, an individual who loses 6 percent or more of his body weight in 6-12 months is at increased risk of illness and even death. For those over the age of 80, weight loss is the single most sensitive predictor of death within the next year.
Can a 76 year old woman lose weight?
I saw an overweight 76-year-old patient who came to see me beaming that for the first time in her life she had lost weight, and she wasn’t even trying. For her this was an ominous sign.
When to call the doctor for weight loss in children?
Weight loss in children is always concerning. The only exception is when overweight children lose weight under a doctor’s supervision. Any unexplained weight loss in a child warrants a call to the doctor.
Monitoring for unintended weight loss, as detailed above, is probably the easiest way to screen for nutrition problems. Other red flags to take note of are: Loss of appetite. Decreased strength and/or ability to get around.