You may have pancreatitis.
Problems with your pancreas, which produces enzymes that aid in digestion, can also lead to unexplained weight loss, Dr. Wakim-Fleming says. People with chronic pancreatitis—a disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed—tend to lose weight quickly (even if they are eating normally) because the body simply doesn’t produce enough enzymes for proper digestion of food to occur, according to The National Pancreas Foundation. Look for symptoms like stomach pain, discolored (or oily) poop, diarrhea, or nausea after eating fatty foods.
Treatment: Your doctor might prescribe painkillers, a change in diet, and antibiotics if you have an infection, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
You have type 1 diabetes or developed type 2.
“Especially early on, new-onset diabetes can cause weight loss,” Dr. Cappola says. While this typically occurs in a type 1 diabetes diagnosis, it can occur in type 2 as well, per the Cleveland Clinic. You may also feel super thirsty and notice you’re peeing all the time. “Your body is literally peeing out glucose because you can’t absorb it, and that drives thirst,” she explains. If you have continuously high blood sugar frequently, it can cause your body to suck nourishment from your muscles, which fuels the sudden weight drop.
Treatment: Your doctor may prescribe oral drugs for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Or in cases of type 1 diabetes and some type 2 diabetes, insulin therapy will be required.