Unexplained Rapid Weight Loss

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Recent "Getting to Know You" poster here and forum newcomer. Undiagnosed here. About three months ago I checked my weight and had lost nearly 45 pounds unintentionally within an ~ 3 month period (the last I had checked). Honestly, 2020 offered some new comforts but added a couple new stressors. I don't know where the emotional balance weighed out but I guess I wasn't eating. I had a major meltdown about a weekend ago and have been feeling like Bilbo Baggins - "spread like butter over too much bread" since then. I have a chronic unknown G.I. issue that my doctor ran blood tests and an x ray for but never could pinpoint the cause and didn't seem too concerned over it. Frankly, the GI issue is much more attractive to me at the moment than pursuing care for it with my medical provider. Seeking assessment has also proved problematic, but that is another post.

Has anyone else experienced severe unexplained weight loss from serial meltdowns or burnout? Is this a thing that happens to others?

That's a lot of weight loss.
Especially if unintended.
Could not eating due to stress be the culprit?
Sorry you had a major meltdown.
Sorry about the GI issue, glad you saw doctor though, shame he could not suss out what it was.
I hope you can resolve the problem.

Me too!

45 pounds in 3 months is something you should investigate.

I've been exercising like mad----and am lucky if I lose 5 pounds in a month. I've been walking about 15-20 miles a day for the past few months.

Good luck in your pursuit of a solution.

I was diagnosed when I was about 3 in the mid-1960s.

Yes. 45 lbs = 20.47 kg = 3.2 stone!

Have you changed your diet / routine?

Have you had your doctor run blood tests, such as for overactive thyroid?
And proteins.

If it is diet, then it may be positive.
If you think it is your diet, try doing the opposite to what people tell you to do when going on a diet.
Eat all the food that people say aren't good for diets!

Cheese, ice cream, candy, alcohol, pizza, bread, butter, pastries etc.
great fun!

sadly, i am never underweight and have to limit the above things. boo!
Hope you manage to get this sorted out!

Thanks kraftiekortie,

I hope I can figure it out too. 15-20 miles a day is incredible!

I'm only walking 10-15 miles nowadays. I've been doing this for about two weeks. This is total miles via Fitbit.

I hope you get everything resolved.

Yes, it was and it was frightening!
It was unintended - I think I was forgetting to eat during the work week.
Definitely lack of appetite/forgetfulness due to stress focus-strain at work.
Wondering if burnout/meltdowns can trigger loss of appetite/extreme weight loss. This happened one other time in my life - around 14 after a very painful formative social interaction.
Yeah, one would think a full blood panel and chest x-ray might uncover a couple of things.

Thanks for your kind thoughts!

I see this all the time: people "forgetting to eat."

I wish I could "forget to eat" sometimes

I'm always thinking about food! Like a 59 year, 360 day old teenager!

This definitely needs further investigation. Any other noticeable changes(some of us aren’t as self aware as others amd this can hinder pinpointing serious issues) need to be mentioned to your Doc. It’s not uncommon for losing weight, forgetting to eat when caught up in our interests or when stress or trauma is having an impact, but you mention it being “unexplained and sudden”. Hope you have peace of mind over this soon.

My younger brother had the same concerns just before Christmas, but he had some other major symptoms along with the sudden weight loss.

GI issues are very common for those on the spectrum, largely tied in with the anxiety we all live with. Things such as IBS, Coeliac and other food sensitivities, as well as auto-immune disorders. Welcome btw and Take Care.

Haha - I don't know how this happened but I'll let you know if I crack the code!

I think I've found it (the weight you lost). Would you like it back?

Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply. This really opens up some avenues of research for me which is exactly what I was hoping for! = )

I mentioned GI/weightloss with my primary care physician who ran a blood panel/urinalysis and chest x-ray - nothing! I haven't heard anything from her since and the colon cancer screening tool she told me was on the way and I've reminded her about now twice (and politely I might add) has yet to come. I am very easily overwhelmed and "give up" when I jump through hoops with no answer or apparent interest in answering these sorts of health questions. I know it is no excuse to let myself languish. However, the demotivation factor is big here and I feel like I am fighting it tooth and nail to stay focused on getting to the bottom of things.

We do have Celiac's running pretty consistently on the paternal side of my family but several tests have come back negative. Not sure where to go from there and aware these tests are not as reliable as a colonoscopy. My provider has limited that procedure understandably so I will need to wait on that.

Really appreciate the replies. Its just really good to know there are others out there. Can't get over how much better it feels getting this out of me instead of letting it eat me alive. Thank you everyone.

Hahahaha! Thanks for the laugh! I'd take it back, but that wouldn't be half as much fun as putting it all back on myself.

GI issue = Autism. IMO

Thanks! Anecdotally, how prevalent are "unexplained" G.I. issues associated with autism? New and still learning here.

Weight loss is caused by less calorie intake than your body uses. Since you have been sick, you haven't been consuming as much calories as usual so the weight shed off.


I wouldn't worry about it and I would only worry about whatever medical issue you are having. Unless you were already underweight to begin with, then you can worry.

Stress has made me lose a few pounds but that is because I always lose my appetite and I lose interest in food. I have to force myself to eat but I don't eat much each meal and I eat more like once a day then.