Hypothyroidism and weight loss
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which your body does not produce enough thyroid hormone or does not use enough thyroid. Hypothyroidism can occur for a variety of reasons, including thyroid inflammation (Hashimoto’s) or age-related factors.
What are the complications of hypothyroidism?
If you have an underactive thyroid that is not treated, several complications can occur and have opposite symptoms, many of the symptoms of underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) are the same as other diseases, so it can easily be mistaken for something else. .
Thyroid complications include:
- Heart problems
- Goiter
- Pregnancy complications
- Myxoedema coma
And its symptoms include: These symptoms usually develop slowly and you may not realize you have a medical problem for several years.
Common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Being sensitive to cold
- Weight Gain
- Constipation
- Depression
- Slow movements and thoughts
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Muscle cramps
- Dry and scaly skin
- Brittle hair and nails
- Loss of libido (sexual desire)
- Pain, numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome)
- Irregular periods or heavy periods
Older people with an underactive thyroid may experience memory problems and depression. Children may experience slower growth and development. Adolescents may begin puberty earlier than usual.
If you have any of these symptoms, see your GP to be tested for hypothyroidism.
The following symptoms of an underactive thyroid include:
- A slow and harsh voice
- A puffy face
- Thin or partially missing eyebrows
- Slow heartbeat
- Hearing loss
- Anemia
As mentioned in the symptoms and complications of hypothyroidism, obesity and weight gain are one of the things that are encountered in the case of hypothyroidism. In the following, this issue will be examined.
What is the relationship between hypothyroidism and weight loss and obesity?
Our body needs thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland to produce energy. If the production of these hormones decreases or the body does not use them in sufficient quantities, it may develop a condition known as hypothyroidism or hypothyroidism.
When the thyroid is underactive, the metabolic rate slows down. In this case, your body burns fewer calories. When levels of key thyroid hormones are low, your metabolism—your body’s ability to use energy and oxygen effectively—slows. This reduced metabolism can lead to fatigue, weight gain, and other metabolic changes that make it harder to maintain a healthy weight. Although this may cause weight loss, you may also gain weight for other reasons.
Extensive research shows that thyroid hormone is an important determinant of overall energy expenditure and that low thyroid hormone levels can reduce BMR. BMR is defined as the amount of energy your body uses during a minute, hour, or day to maintain basic body functions such as breathing, blood pumping, maintaining body temperature, and basic brain function. This is the rate of the body’s metabolism at rest, which constitutes up to 75% of the total energy spent during the day.
What is the reason for weight gain in people with hypothyroidism?
The most common reason for weight gain in people with hypothyroidism is related to the increase in body weight due to the increase in water that is stored in the body. This increase in water is usually caused by changes in hormonal levels and overall body function and causes weight gain.
Hypothyroidism may be one factor that causes weight gain, but it is not the only factor. For each person, there are different reasons and conditions for weight gain that need to be considered. Many people with hypothyroidism are obese. This happens due to the increase in body weight due to the decrease in the rate of metabolism and probably the increase in appetite and the maintenance of calories in the body. One of the signs of hypothyroidism is a decrease in the body’s metabolism. A reduced metabolism means a lower rate of energy burning in the body, in other words, the body’s metabolic rate decreases, which makes weight loss impossible.
There are a few more important points regarding the link between hypothyroidism and body weight:
- Low levels of thyroid hormones can increase the level of cortisol (stress hormone), which itself is a factor in weight gain.
- Chronic hypothyroidism can also cause hypofunction of the adrenal glands, which in turn reduces the body’s metabolism.
- Hypothyroidism is one of the most common medical conditions associated with leptin resistance. Leptin is a hormone that regulates hunger levels and makes you feel full. When you eat, leptin is released and sends the message to the brain that you are full. However, sometimes the brain does not respond normally to leptin. This condition, known as leptin resistance, can cause you to eat more even though your body has enough fat stores to meet your energy needs.
- In some people, hypothyroidism is associated with disorders such as insulin resistance, which increases the possibility of obesity. Thyroid hormones have a significant effect on how your body processes sugar (glucose) and how insulin works in the body. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body regulate blood sugar levels. When you eat, food turns into glucose. The pancreas then releases insulin, which helps your body process glucose for immediate use or storage. Insulin resistance is a condition in which muscle, fat and liver cells do not respond well to insulin and cannot easily take glucose from the blood. As a result, the pancreas produces more insulin to compensate, leading to high blood sugar levels over time.
- Treatment of hypothyroidism with levothyroxine can improve metabolism and facilitate weight loss. Of course, this process is slow.
- It is recommended that people suffering from hypothyroidism follow a proper diet, sufficient physical activity and receive alternative treatments such as levothyroxine to prevent or treat obesity.
Can hypothyroidism lead to weight loss?
In answer to this question, it should be said that yes, but it is mostly due to a decrease in appetite or a decrease in calorie consumption, a feeling of fatigue, and a decrease in physical activity, which may cause weight loss.
In the end, it should be noted that improving hypothyroidism with proper treatment can return the metabolic rate to a normal state and weight loss can start again. But this process takes time and requires patience and medical attention. However, hypothyroidism alone is not the main cause of weight gain and other factors should be considered for each person.
References
https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/hard-to-lose-weight-hypothyroidism#anchor4.
Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) – Complications – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
