TV doctor Nighat Arif has warned that losing weight without trying could be a sign of an underlying health problem, not a cause for celebration. In a recent social media clip, the GP explained that unintentional weight loss—dropping more than five per cent of your body weight in six to 12 months with zero effort—could point to conditions such as an overactive thyroid, uncontrolled diabetes, digestive issues, or even cancer.
Patient's 'exciting' weight loss raised doctor's concerns
Dr Arif, who has appeared on BBC Breakfast and ITV's This Morning, shared the story of a patient who was "so excited" to fit into an old pair of jeans after losing weight. However, the GP's "Spidey-senses started kicking in" and she asked follow-up questions because the weight loss "was just brushed aside."
"It wasn't to alarm her, but when she thought about it, and we dug into what she was doing recently—because she did look absolutely phenomenal, I have to say, and she thought she was just eating healthier—and once we worked out what had actually been happening, actually nothing really had changed in her diet," Dr Arif said. "The weight, however, seems to be falling off faster than she can think."
What unintentional weight loss could indicate
The patient had even bought a belt for the first time in her life, and friends commented on her appearance. But Dr Arif said: "That's when it, for me as a doctor, I was thinking 'actually, I think your body is trying to tell you that something is wrong'."
She emphasised that losing weight without trying "isn't a win" but rather "a warning light for our body to go 'hang on, something isn't working out'." The condition, known as unintentional weight loss, can be linked to an overactive thyroid, uncontrolled diabetes, digestive conditions like celiac or inflammatory bowel disease, depression, and in some cases, cancer. Minor issues like stress or a temporary infection can also cause weight loss.
Doctor urges patients to get checked
Dr Arif advised patients to use the specific phrase 'unintentional weight loss' when speaking to their own GP. "So if the scales are moving down and you didn't ask it to, please don't brush it off. Get it checked," she said. "I know it gets easily dismissed, but it really shouldn't."
