I’ve been losing weight over the past few months without trying, and I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing.
My appetite isn’t what it used to be, and even though I’m eating reasonably well, the weight keeps coming off. I’m concerned about whether this could be related to medication, diet, or something else that should be checked.
Has anyone found ways to maintain their weight or improve their appetite? Any tips, dietary changes, or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to hearing about your experiences.
Hi @davidleo7557, thank you so much for reaching out. Changes in weight and appetite can be worrying, and you’re not alone in feeling concerned. We hope others in the community are able to share their experiences with you.
If you’re noticing ongoing weight loss, please do reach out to your GP or Parkinson’s nurse for advice. They’ll be able to look into what might be causing these changes and talk through any support they can offer you. We also have more information about diet and food on our website, which you might find helpful: Diet and food | Parkinson's UK
If you’d like to talk things through, our free and confidential helpline is also here for anyone affected by Parkinson’s: 0808 800 0303.
Hello, I have that problem, too. I eathing normal, I think it’s because I’m burning twice as much energy for normal activities. My neurologist prescribed me some protein drink for special medical purposes. I’m so skinny that I’m already embarrassed to go to the beach.
You must be a rarity and maybe something else is going on in your body. It seems only logical that PD helps you put on weight because your activity level is lower.
Well yes, my usual weight is \was 62-64 kilos. now I m 47 kilos and have been for about 2 years. I have tried dieticians and they meant well but nothing changed. I have a good appetite and now eat all the junk I used to avoid. That has not helped either. Be eager to hear if anyone has a fix for this!
I lost weight unintentionally the year I was diagnosed. I think this was partly due to worrying about what was going on, but when I monitored my diet I realised I was eating less. Skipping lunches and not snacking seemed to be the biggest changes. I was also keeping active (which relieved anxiety and symptoms). Once I was diagnosed, I started to regain weight because my “normal” eating patterns resumed. Or that’s how I saw it.
Unintentional weight loss is actually pretty common with Parkinson’s, so please know you’re not alone in dealing with it. A few things can contribute: increased energy expenditure from tremor or rigidity, changes in smell and taste that make food less appealing, swallowing difficulties that make eating feel like more effort than it’s worth, and sometimes the medications themselves affecting appetite. Depression can play a role too, even when it’s not obvious day to day.
Late to the party, but I wanted to add that I’ve heard from a friend that incorporating more calorie-dense foods, like nuts and avocados, really helped when they were dealing with similar issues. Have you explored high-calorie meal options or snack ideas that fit into your routine? It might be worth experimenting with different foods to see what helps stabilize your weight.
Reviving this thread because I recently had the same experience with unintentional weight loss. It’s frustrating! I found that adding small, calorie-rich snacks throughout my day, like nuts or cheese, helped a bit. Has anyone else tried tweaking their meal times or snack choices to improve this? Would love to hear more tips!
Since being diagnosed with parkinsons my weight has plummeted from 10 st to 6st so you are not alone. I binge on biscuits and sugurary snacks but I know thats not the answer as too much sugar is not good for you
