Weight loss is generally taken in the context of medicine or health. It is nothing but the reduction of the total body weight measured in either gram, kilogram or in pounds. The general body weight loss can be meant by loss of muscles, bone mass, fat or bodily fluid. It can be both; intentional weight loss and unintentional or pathological weight loss.

Intentional Weight Loss

This weight loss is desired to the loss of total body mass in a faith to improve general health or appearance. This is also looked to remain fit in terms of physique. Nowadays, everybody has become conscious about the health and hence, lot many people know about the hazard of being obese or fat. Prevention is better than cure and that is why, majority of the people who are fat, try their level best to reduce their body weight.

Overweight and obese fellows are susceptible to have major diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, hypertension (high blood pressure), osteoarthritis and hypothyroidism. In many cases, obesity also invites infertility and osteoarthritis. These are the diseases that can be life threatening if left untreated or with improper treatment. To avoid all these hassles, intentional weight loss is required.

For this, there are many ways, right from the exercises to the diet plan. This also includes some internal medications. There are certain herbs that help in reducing the weight. Some alternative therapies like Acupressure and Ayurveda also have good results in losing the weight by its own unique method of treatment.

Along with the internal medications, proper diet plan given by your dietician will reduce the calorie intake and therefore will reduce the weight. One can also achieve desired weight loss with exercises like aerobics, Yoga and other heavy exercises.

Unintentional or Pathological Weight Loss

The weight loss, which is not desired, comes under this category. There are certain chronic illnesses that can result into weight loss. Unexpected weight loss is one of the common symptoms of illness and therefore considered as warning signal.

Poor management of diabetes mellitus (especially type one) can result into drastic weight loss. Starvation from long time and severe dehydration may also reduce the weight. Cancer, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are also well known for their bad effect on body's weight. Weight loss is also seen in the person with hormonal imbalance. For instance, an overactive thyroid gland may also exhibit as weight loss known as hyperthyroidism. A person with stress and anxiety may also have alteration in his or her eating habits which can again impact on weight of the body.

Weight loss carries an importance in all the ways. If intentional, it gives pleasure to a person who has been trying to become lean and if unintentional it is a warning signal that some chronic illness is housing the body. Weight loss has now become a good business with huge market for multinational companies, dieticians, personal coaches, fitness centers and therefore, there are lots of weight losing products, CDs, literatures, campaigning and diet programs are being conducted across the world.