Eating Disorders

[KarenLeighYielding]

My step daughter had her first child one year ago. Prior to the pregnancy she was challenged to lose weight always a size 13-15. After the birth, she dropped weight rapidly now wearing a size 2-0 in less than 9 months after the birth. She craves sweets but does not eat healthy or exercise at all  so the weight lose has shocked the family. We often question whether she is taking drugs and she denies it. What could cause the rapid weight loss and sweet cravings?

[105orbust]

Bulimia

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
With rapid weight loss and craving for sweet, the first thing to be ruled out is diabetes. Hence fasting blood sugar and blood sugar two hours after meal should be tested. Yes, drug abuse is a possibility and blood tests are needed to rule that out. There are many other causes of unexplained weight loss like worms in stool, depression, anorexia nervosa, AIDS, cancers especially colon cancers, drug abuse, infections and loss of appetite. Loss of appetite can again be due to certain medications, drug abuse, depression, AIDS, acute and chronic infections, cancers and hypothyroidism. Either she does not eat well or there is increased metabolism as in hyperthyroid states, HIV, cancer etc. Poor absorption as in irritable bowel syndromes and malabsorption syndromes too is possible. Malabsorption syndromes are seen in intestinal tuberculosis, HIV, tropical sprue, parasites in stool and Whipple’s Disease.
Do discuss this with your step-daughter's doctor and get her examined. Take care!