Fatigue with an unexplained weight gain or weight loss
Unexplained weight change (gain or loss) with fatigue may occur with any of the following diseases:
- A decrease in the amount of oxygen-carrying substance (hemoglobin) found in red blood cells (anemia)
- Problems with the thyroid gland, which regulates the way the body uses energy.
- A low thyroid level (hypothyroidism) can cause fatigue, weakness, lethargy, weight gain, depression, memory problems, constipation, dry skin, intolerance to cold, coarse and thinning hair, brittle nails, or a yellowish tint to the skin.
- A high thyroid level (hyperthyroidism) can cause fatigue, weight loss, increased heart rate, intolerance to heat, sweating, irritability, anxiety, muscle weakness, and thyroid enlargement.
- Metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, in which sugar (glucose) remains in the blood rather than entering the body’s cells to be used for energy
- Cancer, such as lung cancer, leukemia, or lymphoma
- Infection, such as tuberculosis or HIV
- Problems with the heart, such as coronary artery disease or heart failure, which limit the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle or the rest of the body
- Kidney disease and liver disease, which cause fatigue when the concentration of certain chemicals in the blood builds up to toxic levels
- Mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression
- Lung diseases, such as asthma or COPD
- Adrenal gland problems, such as Addison's disease or Cushing's disease
- Malnutrition
- Alcohol or drug abuse or withdrawal
Visit your health professional if your fatigue does not go away and you have an unexplained weight change.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: April 17, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology | |
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