The really short answer - no its not! This is the common statement I hear at least 5 times day. Someone who has been diagnosed with a mild under activity of the thyroid gland (so called "hypothyroidism"). This person thinks that all their myriad problems are due to the thyroid. They start taking thyroid replacement medicines in all good faith. They feel a little lighter initially - this is mainly the body losing excess water. But there it stops. No better how high you increase the dose of thyroid tablet - the weight does not come off. And why not? Because the thyroid problem did not cause the weight gain in the first place. This is such an important, but misunderstood concept, that I am going to repeat it again - THE REASON FOR THE WEIGHT GAIN IS NOT THE THYROID!!
In fact recent research has started to show that gaining weight may cause the body's TSH to increase. Why this happens, is not clear, at least to me. I think, that when you gain weight, it is because you have had too much to eat with too little exercise. This is a stressor for the body. Just like weight gain can increase your blood sugar, blood pressure, joint pains cholesterol, it can also increase the TSH. A raised TSH is used to diagnose hypothyroidism or under activity of the thyroid gland. This is how the confusion occurs.
So, what is the truth regarding the thyroid and weight gain? The truth is out there - seek and ye shall find!!
1. The body tends to retain water when the thyroid gland is under active. This is what causes the puffiness of the face and ankles that can be seen commonly. Once you start thyroid replacement, this excess water drains away. However this water retention may cause 3-5 kg weight gain at the most.
2. Thyroid underactivity is believed to affect the metabolic rate. This is true to some extent. However the mild degrees of under activity that we see daily - TSH 4 or 5 - may not affect the basal metabolic rate at all. Initial studies regarding the effect of the thyroid on the metabolism were done using animals that were profoundly hypothyroid. this is degree of under active thyroid - with TSH of say 100 or 150 - is set right with thyroxine replacement in most people.
3. There is no short cut to losing weight. We all have to plug away at our diet and exercise in a consistent manner to see results. Just taking the thyroid tablet, is not going to do this miraculously.
In fact recent research has started to show that gaining weight may cause the body's TSH to increase. Why this happens, is not clear, at least to me. I think, that when you gain weight, it is because you have had too much to eat with too little exercise. This is a stressor for the body. Just like weight gain can increase your blood sugar, blood pressure, joint pains cholesterol, it can also increase the TSH. A raised TSH is used to diagnose hypothyroidism or under activity of the thyroid gland. This is how the confusion occurs.
So, what is the truth regarding the thyroid and weight gain? The truth is out there - seek and ye shall find!!
1. The body tends to retain water when the thyroid gland is under active. This is what causes the puffiness of the face and ankles that can be seen commonly. Once you start thyroid replacement, this excess water drains away. However this water retention may cause 3-5 kg weight gain at the most.
2. Thyroid underactivity is believed to affect the metabolic rate. This is true to some extent. However the mild degrees of under activity that we see daily - TSH 4 or 5 - may not affect the basal metabolic rate at all. Initial studies regarding the effect of the thyroid on the metabolism were done using animals that were profoundly hypothyroid. this is degree of under active thyroid - with TSH of say 100 or 150 - is set right with thyroxine replacement in most people.
3. There is no short cut to losing weight. We all have to plug away at our diet and exercise in a consistent manner to see results. Just taking the thyroid tablet, is not going to do this miraculously.
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