Constipation and diarrhea are listed as disease-related causes of cachexia.

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Cachexia is a complex wasting process seen with chronic disease, driven by inflammatory signals and metabolic changes that lead to muscle loss and reduced energy balance, not just by not eating enough. When the GI tract is affected, constipation and diarrhea stand out as disease-related contributors because they directly disrupt nutrient access and loss. Diarrhea can cause substantial loss of fluids, electrolytes, and calories, and it often accompanies malabsorption, meaning fewer nutrients are absorbed even if intake is roughly adequate. Constipation reflects GI dysfunction and can contribute to early satiety, abdominal discomfort, and reduced appetite, all of which lower overall nutrient intake. Together, these symptoms illustrate how disease-related GI dysfunction can worsen nutritional status and fuel cachexia. Nausea and vomiting also reduce intake, but the specific combination of constipation and diarrhea is classically recognized as a disease-related driver of cachexia. Weight gain is not a cause of cachexia.