Helpful hints when you suffer from weight loss
Weight loss is one of the most common challenges of cancer and cancer treatment. It’s also a kind of ill-fated forerunner to malnutrition and even cachexia. This is why you should pay the closest of attention to a loss of weight, right from when you notice the first signs.
Weight loss usually appears to be caused by the cancer itself, but it can also be caused by many other impairments you may face as a cancer patient.
Physical impairments
- Fatigue
- Pain
- Medication
Mental impairments
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
Side effects of treatment
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Smell and taste alterations
The more you know about the reasons for your weight loss, the more effectively you can counteract it. No matter what the cause is, professional advice may help to maintain your weight and sometimes improve your nutritional status.
Here are 10 tips to manage weight loss:
- To handle weight loss effectively, eating smaller meals with a high amount of calories and more often is helpful.
- Using a schedule for your caloric intake may help you control mealtimes.
- Eat high-energy foods that are rich in fat and calories, e.g., high-fat dairy products and peanut butter, and avoid low-calorie food. If you suffer from pancreatic insufficiency, adjust your enzymes accordingly.
- Rely on omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil as a very beneficial nutritional source. It is highly recommended to eat food containing these special fats to stabilize or improve appetite, food intake, lean body mass and body weight.
- Add calories to your regular meals.
- Drink liquids like smoothies, milkshakes with whole milk, soups or fruit juices instead of just water or tea.
- Rely on proteins such as those found in meat, fish, dairy products, eggs and legumes, or high-quality protein from whey and milk or through a combination of, e.g., potatoes and eggs.
- Fortify your food with protein and maltodextrin powders or oral nutritional supplements.
- Always consult your dietician/nutritionist or doctor when developing a strategy for maintaining and gaining weight.
- You can also exercise or take short walks to increase your appetite through physical effort. Ask your healthcare team for further advice.
