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Is Sudden Loss Of Weight A Cause For Concern?
Question: I have a BMI of around 15.4-15.6, dropped around 3kg throughout the month. I do not have any eating disorders, nor thyroid problems. Is that too low and dangerous?
Brief Answer:
See below;
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
That is a difficult question, because it depends on so many things.
If you have been loosing weight during the last months it may be an indicator of a seriius illness.
If you are an elite athlete, with phenomenal muscle mass and structure, and healthy in all kinds of ways, then it might be great.
If you are a teenager who is in a growth spurt, is may be a normal stage along the way, and the definition of normal will change over time.
If you are person with a genetic predisposition to have a BMI of 14, it's probably great.
If you are person who gets sick very often, it probably is too low.
Over active thyroid that you excluded is one of many causes.
I could write out 50 "ifs" and not get any closer to answering your question. I could write out 5 "ifs" in direct contradiction to the five I just wrote, by adding other circumstances.
ASK your DOCTOR, who can take a history and examine you. Because your history, combined with your present health, is not like anyone else's. And you need to know if your BMI is dangerously low for you.
Wishing you good health!
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
See below;
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
That is a difficult question, because it depends on so many things.
If you have been loosing weight during the last months it may be an indicator of a seriius illness.
If you are an elite athlete, with phenomenal muscle mass and structure, and healthy in all kinds of ways, then it might be great.
If you are a teenager who is in a growth spurt, is may be a normal stage along the way, and the definition of normal will change over time.
If you are person with a genetic predisposition to have a BMI of 14, it's probably great.
If you are person who gets sick very often, it probably is too low.
Over active thyroid that you excluded is one of many causes.
I could write out 50 "ifs" and not get any closer to answering your question. I could write out 5 "ifs" in direct contradiction to the five I just wrote, by adding other circumstances.
ASK your DOCTOR, who can take a history and examine you. Because your history, combined with your present health, is not like anyone else's. And you need to know if your BMI is dangerously low for you.
Wishing you good health!
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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