II. Causes: "Meals on Wheels" Mnemonic
- Medication Effects
- Emotional Problems (Major Depression)
- Anorexia Nervosa or Alcoholism
- Late-life paranoia
- Swallowing Disorders (See Dysphagia)
- Oral factors (e.g. Poorly fitting dentures)
- No Money
- Wandering (Dementia related behavior)
- Hyperthyroidism, Hyperparaythyroidism, Hypoadrenalism
- Enteric problems (e.g. Malabsorption)
- Eating problems (e.g. difficult self-feeding)
- Low salt diet or low Cholesterol diet
- Stones (Cholecystitis) or social problems (isolation)
- References
III. Causes: 9Ds of Weight Loss Mnemonic
IV. Causes: Common
- Idiopathic in one quarter of cases
- Malignancy (19 to 36%)
- See Cachexia in Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Colon Cancer
- Other cancers (e.g. Breast Cancer)
- Non-malignant Gastrointestinal Causes (9 to 19%)
- Cholecystitis
- Peptic Ulcer Disease
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and other Esophageal disorders (e.g. Esophageal Dysmotility)
- Colitis
- Mesenteric Ischemia
- Celiac Sprue and other malabsorption
- Cardiopulmonary Disorders
- Congestive Heart Failure (5-10%)
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (5-10%)
- Social Factors
- Alcoholism or other Drug Abuse (5-10%)
- Major Depression and other mental illness (9 to 24%)
- Social isolation and loneliness
- Financial contraints
- Impaired Activities of Daily Living
V. Causes: Other Causes
- Endocrine Conditions
- Connective Tissue Disease
- Medication adverse effects
- Neurologic Diseases
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Chronic Infection
-
Fever (See also Fever of Unknown Origin)
- Basal metabolic rate increases 7% per degree F
- Malabsorption
- Pancreatic Insufficiency
- Celiac Sprue
VI. References
- Heizer in Dornbrand (1992) Ambulatory Care, p. 15-18
- Karsh in Friedman (1991) Medical Diagnosis, p. 13-16
- Gaddey (2014) Am Fam Physician 89(9):718-22 [PubMed]
- Grazewood (1998) J Fam Pract 47(1): 19-25 [PubMed]
- Huffman (2002) Am Fam Physician 65(4):640-50 [PubMed]
- Morley (1995) Ann Intern Med 123:850-9 [PubMed]
- White (1991) Am Fam Physician 44(6): 2087-97 [PubMed]
- Zawada (1996) Postgrad Med 100(1):207-25 [PubMed]
