A 60-year-old male patient has been treated for pneumonia for the past 6 weeks. He is seen today in the clinic for an "unexplained" weight loss of 10 pounds over the last 6 weeks. Which is an appropriate rationale for this patient's weight loss?

A) Chronic diseases such as hypertension cause weight loss.
B) Weight loss is probably the result of unhealthy eating habits.
C) Unexplained weight loss often accompanies short-term illnesses.
D) Weight loss is probably the result of a mental health dysfunction.

Question

Caitlin Myers · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : C, Explanation :  An unexplained weight loss may be a sign of a short-term illness or a chronic illness such as endocrine disease, malignancy, depression, anorexia nervosa, or bulimia.Hypertension, unhealthy eating, and mental health dysfunction are not common causes of unexplained weight loss.

Definitions

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Related questions