The short explanation
Losing a noticeable amount of weight without trying, along with poor appetite and a feeling that food is not going down, needs to be checked by a doctor soon. In older adults this can have many causes, including depression, thyroid problems, diabetes, side effects of medicines, dental or swallowing problems, stomach ulcers or infections. Sometimes it can be a sign of a cancer of the food pipe, stomach or bowel, which is why doctors take it seriously. The phrase that food does not feel like going in may mean difficulty swallowing, which needs prompt assessment. A doctor will ask about her symptoms, examine her, check blood tests and may arrange an endoscopy or scans.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Note roughly how much weight she has lost and over how long, and whether she has trouble with solids, liquids or both.
- Other symptoms such as vomiting, black stools, a change in bowel habit, tiredness or low mood are useful to mention.
- Loneliness and low mood can reduce appetite in older adults, but should not be assumed to be the cause until other things are ruled out.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you what is causing your mother's weight loss. She needs to be examined and have tests.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- What could be causing her weight loss?
- Does she need an endoscopy for swallowing difficulty?
- Which blood tests should be done?
- How can we help her eat enough in the meantime?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 if she cannot swallow her saliva, vomits blood, or becomes confused or very weak.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days because of the weight loss and swallowing difficulty.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Indigestion NHS
- Stomach ulcer NHS
- Bowel cancer — 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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