First, some reassurance. Most people with this symptom do not have anything serious — but it is always better to know than to worry. A quick assessment can put your mind at rest or get treatment started early, when it works best.
Common, usually harmless causes
Stress, low mood or a busy period
Appetite and weight often dip during difficult or hectic times.
Thyroid or diabetes
Common medical causes that are easily tested for and treated.
A change in diet or activity
Sometimes weight loss is more deliberate than we realise.
Why it's worth getting checked
Unexplained weight loss can occasionally be an early sign of a problem in the bowel, stomach or elsewhere. Because early diagnosis matters so much, this is a symptom that is always worth investigating rather than watching.
When to get this checked
Please arrange to be seen if:
- You have lost weight without trying, especially more than a few kilos
- It comes with a change in bowel habit, bleeding, or tummy pain
- You also feel unusually tired, or have been told you are anaemic
- Your appetite has dropped or food seems to fill you quickly
- You feel something is simply not right
Get urgent help now if…
Go to A&E or call 999 (or NHS 111 for advice) if:
- Vomiting blood, or passing black tarry stools
- Severe tummy pain, or difficulty swallowing food or fluids
These need emergency care, not a routine appointment. Please do not wait for a private booking.
How I can help — and how quickly
If your symptom is not an emergency, you do not have to sit on a waiting list to get answers. Here is how it usually works:
- A quick telephone consultation. Often arranged within 24 hours. I listen to your history and explain what is likely going on.
- The right test, arranged fast. Where appropriate, I can organise a blood tests and, depending on your symptoms, a colonoscopy, gastroscopy or scan promptly — sometimes before your first face-to-face visit, to speed things up.
- Clear answers and a plan. We go through your results together, and I explain exactly what they mean and what happens next.
Some symptoms need an in-person examination first, and I will always tell you honestly what the best next step is for you.
Why patients choose me
- JAG-accredited in colonoscopy & gastroscopy
- 8,000+ procedures performed
- FRCS — Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon
- MB ChB with Honours & Distinction (Sheffield)
Request a telephone consultation
Prefer a call before coming in? Leave your details below and my secretary will contact you to arrange a telephone consultation, usually within 24 hours. Where appropriate, a phone consultation can fast-track you straight to the right test.
Prefer to email directly? Email a 24-hour callback request · or call 01926 935121
Your details are used only to arrange your consultation. Please don't include sensitive medical information in this form.
Get seen quickly
Call my secretary to arrange a fast appointment, or book online via my Nuffield Health profile. I see patients privately at Nuffield Health Warwickshire Hospital, Leamington Spa.
Call 01926 935121Common questions
How much weight loss is a concern?
Unintentional loss of around 5% of your body weight, or more, over a few months is worth checking — sooner if you have other symptoms.
What will be checked?
Usually some blood tests first, then any camera test or scan that your symptoms point to. I will guide you through it clearly.
Can I be seen quickly?
Yes — a telephone consultation can usually be arranged within a day or two, with tests organised promptly.