WEIGHT

Unexplained weight loss can be extremely stressful and enervating, not to mention medically dangerous.

In the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) community the problems of unwanted weight loss are well known, and many individuals living with CF are forced to tolerate a gruelling regimen of weight gain supplements or other interventions in order to maintain medically healthy weight.

Despite obesity being an epidemic killer in the Western world, the condition of unexplained/unwanted weight loss is not as rare as one might think. There are a number of health problems that can put you at risk for unexplained weight loss.

These are health issues that can affect an individual in concert with CF, exacerbating the symptoms thereof. They are also representative of groups and causes that share similar struggles to the CF world. It is important to get to know the wider context of CF symptoms, including unwanted weight loss.

Potential causes of unwanted weight loss can include pulmonary exacerbation and worsening of CF symptoms, dental problems, depression and anxiety, diabetes, celiac disease, heart failure, cancer, changes in sense of smell or taste and medication side-effects.

Additional Resources