Approach to Weight Loss

Differential diagnosis

• Significant
  • >5% over 12 months
  • Divide into preserved appetite
  • Loss of appetite
• Endocrine
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Diabetes
  • Addison’s
  • Phaeochromocytoma
• Neoplastic
  • GI malignancy
    • Oesophageal
    • Colon
  • Lung
  • Breast
  • Prostate
• Infectious
  • Chronic infection
    • TB
    • HIV
  • Acute infection
• Inflammatory
  • SLE
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
• Malabsorption
  • Chronic pancreatitis
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Coeliac disease
• Chronic disease
  • Chronic renal failure
  • Bronchiectasis / COPD
  • Congestive cardiac failure
  • Chronic neurological disease
• Drugs
  • Illicit drug use
    • Amphetamines
    • Cocaine
  • Alcohol
  • Metformin
  • Withdrawal of antipsychotics
• Psychological
  • Depression
  • Anorexia
  • Bulimia