Seeing the needle on the bathroom scale go down is usually welcome news. But not always.

A sudden or significant loss of weight when you’re not trying to lose weight can be a sign that there’s an underlying health problem, such as intestinal troubles, cancer, diabetes, or depression.

Identify the Cause
Losing too much weight too quickly can lower immunity, making it harder to fight infections and get better after an illness. And it weakens muscles and leads to fatigue, so it’s harder to carry out your usual activities.

Sometimes it’s easy to see what’s causing weight loss. Older adults, especially those living alone, may have a poor appetite and not eat enough. That’s partly because the senses of taste and smell diminish with age, so food may not taste as good. Eating alone is a factor, too—people tend to eat more when they dine and socialize with others. For some, it’s just too tiring or difficult to shop for groceries and fix healthy meals.

Medications that blunt the appetite or bring on nausea can also be to blame. Or it could be an undiagnosed health condition. Weight loss can be triggered by the following:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cancer
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Digestive troubles
• Heart disease
• Infections
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Thyroid problems

When to Seek Help
An unintended weight loss of 10 percent or more in the past six months is cause for concern. If you or a loved one has had this happen, schedule a visit with your doctor. He or she can examine you to find out the cause and take steps to get your health and nutrition back on track.

Find Foods to Keep You Young
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