Loss of appetite and weight — which specialty
Eating less and losing weight without setting out to.
Usually seen by
General internal medicine
Other directions, depending on what comes with it:
- Gastroenterology — with abdominal pain or a change in bowel habit
- Endocrinology — with excessive thirst and urination
- Oncology — if referred from a previous assessment
- Psychiatry — with a prolonged loss of interest
Not sure you have picked the right one? Start with general internal medicine — routing you to the right place is their job, not yours.
Go now, without waiting for an appointment, if any of these apply
- Losing more than five per cent of body weight in six months without trying
- Weight loss with prolonged fever or night sweats
- Weight loss with difficulty swallowing or blood in the stool
This list is not exhaustive and does not replace judgement on the spot. If something is clearly wrong and you are unsure, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest facility — waiting in order to be certain is the most dangerous way to spend the time.
What you will be asked — have the answers ready
- What you weighed before, what you weigh now, over what period — actual figures
- Whether you eat less because of no appetite, because of pain, or because swallowing is hard
- Whether there is fever, night sweats or a long cough
- How your mood and sleep have been
A first appointment is short. Having these answers ready is the cheapest way to avoid a second visit that exists only to supply information.
Bring with you
- Weights against dates — a photograph of the scales is good evidence
- Recent blood results
What a first visit usually involves
- General examination
- Basic blood tests, liver and kidney function, thyroid
- Imaging along the suspected line