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What Causes Rapid Weight Loss In A 27 Year Old Man?

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Posted on Sat, 2 Apr 2016
Question: Hi Doctor,
I think I am suffering from malnutrition from the last few years. I am loosing weight gradually. Below are my information. Please suggest what I should do?
Age: 27
Sex: Male
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 44.5

Thank you,
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Underlying cause should be found but provide more information first.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to HCM.

I have gone through your query with attached reports and understand the concern.

Gradual weight loss could be due to lack proper nutrients in diet or dietary restriction or Mal-absoprtion syndrome or could be indicative of some underlying chronic illness or disease.

But the important fact about weight loss is that it should be significant, generally more than 10% loss of total body weight over a period of minimum 6 months is considered as a clinically significant weight loss and must be further evaluated by clinical examination and various tests to detect underlying chronic disease if any.

To understand your weight loss better, I would like to ask some more information since your present Body Mass Index is low (around 16 as per your height and weight).

1) What was your weight before 6 months or 1 year if you remember?
2) How much weight you are losing in a month?
3) What about your appetite? OR is your diet reduced recently?
4) Is there any history of disease in the past?
5) Are you being treated for any disease?
6) Did ensure powder or herbal protein powder helped you to gain some weight?

Generally treatment of weight loss depends on the underlying cause.

Also it is good that you have already taken vitamin D and B12 correction (for their respective deficiencies), but they are not linked with weight loss.

So, kindly get back to me with more information, I will guide you after that.

Regards,

Dr.Sandip Kabra


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sandip Kabra (1 hour later)
Hi Doctor,
Thank you for detailed explanation. Below are the information you need.
1) What was your weight before 6 months or 1 year if you remember?
--- 47(6 months ago) and 50(1 year ago)
2) How much weight you are losing in a month?
---- may be 0.5 kg.
3) What about your appetite? OR is your diet reduced recently?
---- Appetite is low. If I try to eat more than usual, my next meal has to be delayed or skipped.
4) Is there any history of disease in the past?
---- No
5) Are you being treated for any disease?
---- No
6) Did ensure powder or herbal protein powder helped you to gain some weight?
---- Ensure powder helped me to gain 1 kg of weight if I take it along with a syrup "Lysupra". This happened for my weight increase from 46 to 47. Herbalife did not help.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
likely related to your dietary pattern or low appetite.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for sharing more information,

From all the facts you posted here and all the normal investigations reports,your weight loss is likely related to your dietary pattern or low appetite but it would be advisable to undergo Stool tests for routine microscopy,ova and cyst (which you have not done earlier) with chest x-ray,mantoux test,serum HIV and HBsAg for safer side.

Since your body mass index (BMI) is less (which is around 16) than normal , you are underweight.

To gain weight, you need to consume more calories every day from healthy foods and choose the right type of exercise.

You can have below mentioned diet.

1) Eat high calorie, high protein diet. Do not increase the intake of junk foods and greasy foods, this will contain unhealthy fats.

2) Eat healthy fats like omega-3 essential fatty acids sources like salmon, walnuts.

3) Eat good protein rich foods like egg, white nuts, seeds, pulses and legumes.

4) Eat healthy carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

5) Eat five to six small balanced meals per day rather than eating three large meals.

6) Protein powder (like ensure powder which you are taking) and nutritional supplement drinks can be continued.

7) Consume a lot of high-calorie snacks (not junk foods) such as cheese sticks, milk shakes, muffins, dried fruits, yoghurt.

8) Drink a lot of fluids that supply nutrients and calories like milk, fresh fruit juice and energy drinks.

9) Eat starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn more often.

10) Drink at least 2 glasses of milk, replace tea with milk.

11) Have eggs for breakfast. Custard is good for putting on weight.

12) Eat bananas and sapota milkshakes.

Keep a record of calorie intake each day. Try to increase calories intake by checking the record and continue to increase calorie intake until you gain weight.

Avoid caffeine and nicotine.

Exercises are also important for healthy weight gain. Resistance training exercises such as lifting weights will help to increase the muscle size.

Hope this helps and let me know if you have anymore question.

Regards,

Dr.Sandip kabra

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sandip Kabra

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 3078 Questions

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What Causes Rapid Weight Loss In A 27 Year Old Man?

Brief Answer: Underlying cause should be found but provide more information first. Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to HCM. I have gone through your query with attached reports and understand the concern. Gradual weight loss could be due to lack proper nutrients in diet or dietary restriction or Mal-absoprtion syndrome or could be indicative of some underlying chronic illness or disease. But the important fact about weight loss is that it should be significant, generally more than 10% loss of total body weight over a period of minimum 6 months is considered as a clinically significant weight loss and must be further evaluated by clinical examination and various tests to detect underlying chronic disease if any. To understand your weight loss better, I would like to ask some more information since your present Body Mass Index is low (around 16 as per your height and weight). 1) What was your weight before 6 months or 1 year if you remember? 2) How much weight you are losing in a month? 3) What about your appetite? OR is your diet reduced recently? 4) Is there any history of disease in the past? 5) Are you being treated for any disease? 6) Did ensure powder or herbal protein powder helped you to gain some weight? Generally treatment of weight loss depends on the underlying cause. Also it is good that you have already taken vitamin D and B12 correction (for their respective deficiencies), but they are not linked with weight loss. So, kindly get back to me with more information, I will guide you after that. Regards, Dr.Sandip Kabra