Mnemonic for the Causes of unintentional weight loss in elderly patients
MEALS ON WHEALS
- Medication effects
- Emotional problems (especially depression)
- Anorexia nervosa, alcoholism
- Late life paranoia
- Swallowing disorders
- Oral factors (such as poorly fitting dentures, caries)
- No money
- Wandering and other dementia related behaviors
- Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, hypoadrenalism
- Enteric problems
- Eating problems (such as an inability to feed oneself)
- Low salt, low cholesterol diet
- Stones, social problems (such as isolation, an inability to obtain preferred foods)
