# I keep losing weight, any idea why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 22, 2015, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082 "2015-12-22T11:01:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Torontonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/45deac/32.png) [@Torontonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torontonian)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/1 "2015-12-22T11:01:24Z")
I lost approximately 50 pounds since spring 2015. I don’t exercise at all. In fact Im a couch potato. Im 5.8 and now below 120 pounds. My arms are two noodles I am diagnosed with acute gastritis that last for 3 days few times a month and goes away on its own. My diet is limited. I have severe lactose intolerance can’t even stomach ice cream at all. I can’t digest most uncooked vegetables (celery, carrots, beet, onions, sweet peppers, fibres and citrus fruits) Can’t have **B** oiled eggs. Can’t have granola bars. Can’t have anything pickled or hot sauce. Im a fishetarian (eat fish, no meat, no sea food in my case) I eat multivitamins. I know you are not doctors, do you have any suggestions should I go to a doctor again? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/2 "2015-12-22T11:15:39Z")
I have the same issue, but my weight has dropped off more slowly over a longer period of time. [Maybe some of the responses in my thread will be of interest to you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=776913&highlight=unexplained). I have some other health issues, and so my doctor isn’t concerned about this one. As far as she’s concerned, I needed to lose weight anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/3 "2015-12-22T11:15:57Z")
Yes, you should go to a doctor again. At the very least, they might be able to recommend you a dietitian who can help you work up a healthy diet within your restrictions. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/4 "2015-12-22T12:41:02Z")
With an extreme weight loss like that I would insist on a complete work up and cancer scan. ---
**Author:** ![jerry\_smissingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@jerry\_smissingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerry_smissingfinger)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/5 "2015-12-22T12:45:59Z")
If it were me I would go have a full blood work up. There are many diseases of the liver that can cause what you describe that are easily managed with diet. It also ties in directly with the small intestine which could be a source of discomfort after eating certain foods. With today’s health care system we all need to be more so proactive than in the past. You know your body better than anyone. Hope all is well ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/6 "2015-12-22T13:19:49Z")
Get thee to a doctor ASAP. When I lost 20 badly unneeded pounds over a year (and was actively dieting) my doctor still got worried and sent me for x-rays. When I lost another 20 over the following year, he wanted to do the same, but I ignored that. But he didn’t believe I was dieting. But an unexplained loss like is not normal. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/7 "2015-12-22T22:15:37Z")
Reported for forum change. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/8 "2015-12-22T22:20:25Z")
> [@Torontonian](#): > > I lost approximately 50 pounds since spring 2015. The single most important question (IMO) is how is your appetite. Okay, two: are you eating as much as before? Be objective and honest with your answer. Weight loss with a truly maintained appetite has a very limited differential diagnosis (i.e. list of possible causes). OTOH, if your appetite is down, the list is more extensive and tends to include more ominous conditions. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/9 "2015-12-22T22:21:28Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > With an extreme weight loss like that I would insist on a complete work up and cancer scan. Before a urinalysis for glucose? Or a TSH (thyroid blood test)? ETA: Or, for that matter, a good history and physical by a skilled internist (I know one) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/10 "2015-12-22T22:29:46Z")
**Moderator Action** Since this is seems to be a medical issue, let’s move it to our medical opinion forum. Moving thread from General Questions to In My Humble Opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Torontonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/45deac/32.png) [@Torontonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torontonian)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/11 "2015-12-22T22:39:07Z")
Thanks for moving it where it belongs. I will get more replies this way. I should have mentioned I had regular full body check 3 months ago, heart, liver, kidneys, thyroid, blood sugar, blood pressure, hiv, stds etc. Everything came back normal. My appetite seems normal, too. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/12 "2015-12-22T22:43:16Z")
When you donate blood they ask if you’ve had any unexplained weight loss, so a number of diseases such as hiv could be responsible. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/13 "2015-12-22T22:55:25Z")
Your Dr needs you to challenge him/her re the usual suspects because its not showing up by the standard tests. You have alarming symptoms and “nothing shows on the full body check, so I just don’t know” shouldn’t satisfy you. IMHO- Either ask your Dr to start checking things that are outside the box or get a second opinion. Its your life though. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/14 "2016-04-12T14:56:04Z")
Any update? It doesn’t look like **Torontonian** has posted since January…anyone hear anything? ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/15 "2016-04-12T15:25:09Z")
Go to the grocery store and follow around fat people. Best is someone driving one of those electric “Fat Mobiles”! Then see what they are buying to eat. Get the same things. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-keep-losing-weight-any-idea-why/741082/16 "2016-04-12T15:41:37Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Go to the grocery store and follow around fat people. Best is someone driving one of those electric “Fat Mobiles”! > > Then see what they are buying to eat. Get the same things. Really not the place for such an off-topic “joke.” Take it elsewhere.