Unexpected weight loss: Not always a dream come true

It sounds like the making of a mid-week sitcom, waking up one day and pulling back the covers to discover you have a much skinner body than the one you had when you went to bed. As silly (and actually TV-worthy) as it sounds, I imagine most of us have secretly wished for that kind of miraculous weight loss, the one where we don't have to try, the one where our clothes are mysteriously hanging off our hips even though we've done nothing differently.

Unexpected weight loss might not be the solution to all our nutritional and fitness problems. In fact, it might be a symptom of a much bigger health problem that requires medical attention. While medication, nausea and lifestyle changes can cause weight loss, so can bigger health issues like diabetes, hyperthyroidism and lack of blood supply to the bowel.

How can you tell if a surprise dip in the number on the scale is cause for concern? Check in with your doctor, particularly if you've dropped 10% or more of your total body weight in the last six months to a year, and be sure to be honest about what you have or haven't done to lose the weight.