A patient with persistent loss of body weight and muscle wasting due to disease most commonly associated with advanced cancer or AIDS is described as having which condition?

• A. Malabsorption
• B. Dehydration
• C. Anorexia
• D. Cachexia

Answer: (D)

Cachexia is a wasting syndrome seen with chronic diseases such as advanced cancer or AIDS, marked by ongoing involuntary weight loss and loss of skeletal muscle mass driven by a catabolic state and inflammatory signals from the illness. This means the body is breaking down protein and muscle even if calories are adequate, so nutrition alone can’t fully reverse it.

While loss of appetite can accompany cachexia, the key issue is the systemic metabolic changes causing muscle wasting, not just reduced intake. Malabsorption involves poor nutrient absorption, and dehydration involves fluid loss; neither explains the persistent muscle wasting driven by the disease as described.