Get emergency help now if…
- Get emergency help if a rapid weight increase/swelling comes with severe breathlessness or chest pain, or you collapse.
Contact a clinician today if…
- Contact a clinician today for rapid unexplained change with marked weakness, vomiting, excessive thirst, bleeding or new swelling.
Arrange a visit / follow-up
- Arrange a visit soon for ongoing weight loss without trying or unexplained gain, even if you otherwise feel well.
If symptoms worsen, your care plan gives an earlier deadline, or you are unsure, contact a clinician sooner. If you cannot reach your team, use urgent care; use emergency care for severe symptoms. Many conditions share symptoms. Possible causes are examples, not a diagnosis. Missing a listed warning sign does not mean it is safe to wait.
What could be behind this symptom?
Several conditions can cause the same symptom. These examples cannot confirm or rule out a diagnosis. A clinician may need your history, an examination, or tests.
Possible causes include food access, stress, medicines, thyroid or diabetes problems, fluid retention or other illness.
What to tell your care team
Use paper or your own notebook. Do not send personal medical details through this website.
- Bring dated weights, appetite changes, medicines and any difficulty getting food.
Do not delay urgent care to fill in notes. Avoid changing prescription medicines based on this guide.
Adults, with extra care for some situations
For adults 18 and older. Children need advice from a pediatric care team. These pages do not assess your individual symptoms.
These guides are written for adults. Children need age-specific advice. Contact a clinician earlier if you are pregnant, gave birth in the last year, have weakened immunity, or have a serious ongoing condition. Tell them about recent surgery and any new medicines.
Pregnant or gave birth within the past year? Get medical care immediately for a severe or lasting headache, vision change, fainting, fever, chest pain, trouble breathing, severe belly pain, heavy bleeding, or a painful swollen leg. Tell the team about the pregnancy. For other new symptoms, contact your maternity team for tailored advice.
Pregnant or gave birth in the past year?Sources behind this original guide
Official references support this educational guide. Sources may open an external site in another language; the full English, Spanish, and Hindi guide is on this website.
- NHS: Unintentional weight loss
- MedlinePlus: Unintentional weight loss
- MedlinePlus: Unintentional weight gain
Sources checked: · Medical and language review confirmed by the foundation · v1.0