The short explanation
It is good that thyroid has already been checked, since an overactive thyroid is one common cause. Other common reasons for weight loss with low appetite include diabetes, stomach problems such as ulcers or acidity, coeliac disease or other gut conditions, infections such as tuberculosis, depression or anxiety, and side effects of medicines. Less often, unexplained weight loss can be a sign of cancer, which is why it should be fully looked into. Tests a doctor may consider include a complete blood count, blood sugar, kidney and liver function, ESR or CRP for inflammation, a stool test, and sometimes a chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound or endoscopy. Which ones depend on your other symptoms.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Fever, night sweats, cough, change in bowel habit, blood in stool, or difficulty swallowing guide the tests.
- Low mood, stress or a recent big life change can reduce appetite and cause weight loss.
- Keeping a simple record of your weight helps show whether it is continuing.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you why you are losing weight. A doctor's assessment and tests are needed.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- What could be causing my weight loss and low appetite?
- Which tests should I have next?
- Could stress or mood be part of it?
- Should I see a specialist?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Get help the same day
- Get care the same day if you are vomiting repeatedly, cannot keep food down, or pass black stools.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a week or two for unexplained weight loss and low appetite.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Unintentional weight loss NHS
- Weight loss — unintentional MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
- Cancer — signs and symptoms NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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