TOC  | D-Dx    

Weight Changes Differential  -  Outlines in Clinical Medicine on Physicians' Online 2001

A. Weight Gain

1.Bulimia

2.Reactive depression and anxiety

3.Iatrogenic : Antipsychotics: phenothiazines, olanzepine ; Tricyclic antidepressants ; Lithium ; Glucocorticoids ; Anabolic Steroids

4.Hypothyroidism

5.Pituitary tumors

6.Cushing's Syndrome

7.Insulinoma

8.Birth control pills (oral contraceptives)

9.Ordinary Obesity

B. Weight Loss

1.Inadequate Food Intake

• Poor dietary habit
• Anorexia nervosa
• Depression
• Famine & poverty
• Dementia

2.Neurological

• a.Hypothalamic Disease
• b.Diffuse brain Disease (infections, malignancy)

3.Malabsorption Syndrome

• a.Constrictive lesions
• b.Enzyme deficiency
• c.Inflammatory Diseases
• d.Irritable bowel syndrome

4.Chronic Infection

• a.HIV Infection - generally severe ("AIDS Wasting")
• b.Tuberculosis
• c.Fungal infections
• d.Parastitic Infections

5.Malignancy associated cachexia

6.Adrenal (cortical) Insufficiency (Addison's Disease)

7.Hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis) - increased appetite

8.Diabetes mellitus with proteinuria - increased appetite

9.Lipodystrophies

References

1.Garg A. 2000. Am J Med. 108(2):143

2.Kotler DP. 2000. Ann Intern Med. 133(8):622

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