F13 · Unplanned weight loss
Actual Food and fluids
Definition
The person is losing weight without trying, which may signal poor intake or illness.- Poor intake
- cancer
- depression
- infection
- thyroid disease
- Clothes looser
- falling weight chart
- muscle loss
- weakness
📋 Scenario
An older man has lost 6 kg in two months without dieting.
Subjective (S): "My clothes are loose and I'm not trying to lose weight."
Objective (O): Weight down 6 kg in 2 months; BMI 18.5; reduced muscle bulk; poor appetite.
Assessment tools for this scenario: CP-FLUID Fluid Balance & Nutrition Score
Validated scales to consider: MUST, fluid chart, glucose
**CarePath diagnosis:** Unplanned weight loss related to poor intake, as evidenced by clothes looser and falling weight chart.
**Interventions and rationale**
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Weigh regularly. | Regular weights show the trend and whether treatment is working. |
| Look for causes. | Unplanned weight loss can signal illness such as infection, cancer or thyroid disease, so finding the cause allows it to be treated. |
| Give high-energy foods and supplements. | High-energy foods and supplements give more calories in small amounts, which suits a poor appetite. |
| Involve a dietitian. | A dietitian plans nutrition to his needs. |
| Report ongoing loss to the doctor. | Ongoing loss despite effort may signal an untreated illness that needs doctor review. |
**Expected outcomes**
- Within 2 weeks: weight stops falling and gradually rises.
- Cause of weight loss investigated.
- Patient eats high-energy small meals about 6 times a day.
**Linking the data to the diagnosis**
The older man has lost 6 kg in 2 months without dieting. His BMI is 18.5, muscle bulk is reduced and appetite is poor. He says his clothes are loose and he is not trying to lose weight. This is an actual problem because the loss has already happened. Not eating enough to meet body needs is a close statement, but the key finding here is the weight falling without intent, which may point to an illness that must be looked for. The plan aims for weight to stop falling and gradually rise within 2 weeks, the cause investigated, and the patient eating high-energy small meals about 6 times a day.
CarePath diagnosis
Unplanned weight loss related to poor intake, as evidenced by clothes looser and falling weight chart.
Interventions and rationale
Listed in priority order.
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| 1. Weigh regularly. | Regular weights show the trend and whether treatment is working. |
| 2. Look for causes. | Unplanned weight loss can signal illness such as infection, cancer or thyroid disease, so finding the cause allows it to be treated. |
| 3. Give high-energy foods and supplements. | High-energy foods and supplements give more calories in small amounts, which suits a poor appetite. |
| 4. Involve a dietitian. | A dietitian plans nutrition to his needs. |
| 5. Report ongoing loss to the doctor. | Ongoing loss despite effort may signal an untreated illness that needs doctor review. |
Expected outcomes
- Within 2 weeks: weight stops falling and gradually rises.
- Cause of weight loss investigated.
- Patient eats high-energy small meals about 6 times a day.
Linking the data to the diagnosis
The older man has lost 6 kg in 2 months without dieting. His BMI is 18.5, muscle bulk is reduced and appetite is poor. He says his clothes are loose and he is not trying to lose weight. This is an actual problem because the loss has already happened. Not eating enough to meet body needs is a close statement, but the key finding here is the weight falling without intent, which may point to an illness that must be looked for. The plan aims for weight to stop falling and gradually rise within 2 weeks, the cause investigated, and the patient eating high-energy small meals about 6 times a day.