Weight Loss Types

Weight loss in terms of medical concepts is a reduction of the total body mass, it happens due to loss of fluid, body fat and adipose tissue and lean mass namely muscles, bone mineral deposits, tendon and other connective tissues. It can occur unintentionally because of an underlying disease or can arise from a conscious effort to improve an actual or obese state.

Types of Weight Loss

Weight loss can occur in two ways:
1. Intentional
2. Unintentional

Intentional Weight Loss
Intentional weight occurs due to the loss of total body mass as a result of the hard work to improve fitness and health of the body.
Obese or overweight individuals due to weight loss can decrease health risks, improve their fitness and delay the onset of diabetes. Individuals suffering from osteoarthritis, by weight loss can move freely and reduce pain in their knees.
Intentional weight loss is achieved with the help of diet control and taking physical exercises. Various dietary strategies have been planned to fulfill the needs of individuals to lose excess weight. Calorie-restriction plans are one of the best dietary procedures. Regular calorie intake of an individual may vary depending on the factors such as age, gender and weight-loss aims.

Unintentional Weight Loss
Unintentional or unexplained weight loss can be a symptom of an underlying medical disorder. Your body weight depends upon the calorie consumption, overall health, nutrition, age, nutrient absorption as well as other factors. Unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more than that should be properly investigated.

Unexpected weight loss can occur due to some medical disorders listed below:

1. Cancer: A sudden and significant loss of weight in a person should be assessed for an unknown cancer, in case if no other cause is evident. Patients of cancer produce cachectin and interleukins substances that cause weight loss. Increased metabolism may be responsible for weight loss in patients suffering from blood cancer.
2. Hormonal disorder: This is the common cause of weight loss. Conditions such as hyperthyroidism increase the metabolic function due to which unexpected weight loss occurs.
3. Infection or inflammation: Infections accompanied by a decrease in appetite and calorie intake are commonly associated with weight loss because of increase in metabolic rate. Many infections such as lung abscess, fungal diseases, HIV and subacute bacterial endocarditis causes unexpected weight loss.
4. Neurological disorder: Brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease as well as Alzheimer’s disease cause irregular eating due to which weight loss occurs.
5. Heart problems: Cardiovascular diseases result in decreased craving for food and increased metabolic rate. Patients of severe congestive heart failure make substances in the blood known as cytokines that also leads to unintentional weight loss.
6. Lung diseases: Apart from lung infections, conditions such as severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are also related to weight loss. Symptoms of lung disease should be checked out in a patient with weight loss.
7. Kidney diseases: Kidney diseases are also related to weight loss because of protein loss in the urine and the associated nausea as well as vomiting.

Conclusion
Change in your regular diet and doing exercise reduces weight. Intentional weight loss is not a matter of concern. But a sudden weight loss requires full medical attention. Sometimes you may develop diseases and the symptoms are often hidden, as a result unexpected weight loss occurs. Consult your physician to get proper treatment.