DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF WEIGHT LOSS IN THE CLINIC
When a patient comes at a weight loss before undertaking an extensive search it is important to check that there is indeed weight loss and measure the period in which it occurred.
Almost 50% of patients who claim to have experienced significant weight loss actually show no change in body weight that can be measured objectively.
It is not uncommon to see patients who have not noticed they have actually lost weight on relevant extent.
All major weight loss that a previously healthy person has not sought deliberately usually indicates the existence of a systemic disease.
Therefore it is important to systematically quantify consultation body weight of each patient.
As weight loss a symptom of another disease, treatment is based on correcting the disease that is causing the weight loss.
The normal individual maintains their body weight at a predetermined level of remarkable stability, given how much they vary daily caloric intake and activity level. Because of the physiological importance of conserving energy reserves, it is difficult to lose weight and keep it off voluntarily.
Weight loss occurs when energy consumption exceeds calories available for that purpose.
The mechanisms of weight loss are: the reduced food intake, malabsorption, and loss of calories increased energy requirements.
