12 Causes & Triggers of Rapid Weight Loss You Shouldn’t Ignore (List)

Eating Disorder

Another cause of rapid weight loss is eating disorders. Unlike those who do fad diets, which is a conscious choice, an eating disorder is characterized by a persistent disturbance in eating habits that impairs one’s health or psychosocial functioning. Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, avoidant food intake, and binge eating disorder. Each condition has different clinical features from the others, but they all involve abnormal eating behaviors and often, irregular views on food, and distorted body image.

With abnormal eating habits comes fluctuating weight. Most patients diagnosed with such are underweight. Persons with anorexia nervosa may be underweight due to persistent food restrictions, obsessive exercising, and even the use of laxatives to achieve a particular body image. Contrary to what the scale says, their fears of gaining weight make them believe they need to lose more. 

Like in anorexia nervosa, those with bulimia nervosa share the same traits of body dysmorphia and fear of gaining weight. However, it is characterized by frequent binge eating followed by purging by vomiting or using laxatives in fear of gaining from the calories consumed. 

These are just some eating disorders that may lead to rapid weight loss.