Sudden or Unexplained Weight Change

Seeing the numbers on our bathroom scales dipping can be a welcome sign of success in our battle against the bulge. But any sudden and unintended shift in weight, in either direction, is a sure sign that something is seriously wrong.

Of course, rapid, self-induced weight loss can signal an eating disorders, such as Anorexia or Bulimia. But unintended weight loss, with or withour loss of appetite, can point to depression, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, heart faiure, a nutritional disorder, or cancer. A recent study found that unexplained weight loss in women may be an early warning sign of dementia a decade later. And sudden weight loss can be a reaction to some drugs, both prescribed and illicit, including antidepressants and amphetamines. If an older adult loses weight suddenly, it may be a forewarning of dementia. While it is common for the elderly to lose weight as they age, usually less than a pound a year, losing more than that appears to signal the imminent onset of this neurological disorder.

We have probably all experienced putting on a few extra pounds, especially around the holidays. This is usually a benign sign of lack of restraint around the buffet table. But sudden weight gain can also signal some serious and not-so-serious systemic problems.

Putting on with in a matter of a day or two can be due to fluid retention (edema). Many women notice that both their breasts and belles bloat as they retain water just before their periods. But fluid retention can also signal Heart failure, the inability of the heart to pump efficiently. Although swollen feet and legs are classic signs of heart failure, heart-disease-related edama can build up around the abdomen as well.

If you have been putting on pounds and then dropping them dramatically without changing your eating habits, it may signal a number of physical or psychological problems. Up-and-down weight gain and loss can, for example be a clue that you have a thyroid disorder, an infection, a nutritional problem, or an eating disorder.

"Yo-yo" weight gain and loss is not just frustrating. In men, it can be a sign that they are at increased risk of developing gallstones. The large health Professionals Follow-up Study found that repeated weight loss and gain in men, particularly if they lost more than 20 pounds in a dieting episode, might increase their risk of gallsotnes by 50%.