The Connection between Thyroid Disorders and Weight Gain
Understanding the connection between thyroid disorders and weight gain is not difficult once one demystifies the role of the thyroid gland in the body. Thyroid hormones regulate the overall functioning of the body; if levels decrease the cells in our bodies decrease in activity. If thyroid levels increase then the reverse is true, and the cells in our bodies increase in activity.
Overseeing the functioning of the thyroid gland is the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. It is ultimately responsible for telling the thyroid how much thyroid hormone to release into the body. When the thyroid hormone levels in the body decrease then the pituitary gland releases Thyroid Stimulating Hormones (TSH) that then signal to the thyroid that it’s time to produce more thyroid hormones. And if there is an excess amount of thyroid hormone in the body then the pituitary gland stops releasing TSH into the blood stream and as a result the thyroid secretes less thyroid hormone into the body.
When the body is functioning properly, there is a balance between TSH and thyroid hormone levels in the body, and our bodies are working at optimal levels. However, too much or too little TSH and thyroid hormones can signal a variety of symptoms, one of which is weight gain.
An over active thyroid, or hyperthyroidism can result in symptoms such as trembling, insomnia, breathlessness, fatigue and more. It is often compared to having had too much coffee. An under active thyroid or hypothyroidism however, has been blamed for such debilitating symptoms as: fatigue, muscle cramps, depression, irritability and weight gain, among others.
Weight gain is perhaps the most common symptom of an under active thyroid. While there are many reasons why your thyroid isn’t producing the levels of hormone that is required by the body, the results are often the same. This hormone which regulates the body’s metabolism is not producing enough hormone and as a result the body’s cells require less energy, therefore more energy is stored as sugar and fat in the body. Even though people with hypothyroidism often consume less calories than other people, the body is functioning so sluggishly that very few of those calories are being burned as fuel.
While weight gain has been clearly identified as a significant symptom of an under active thyroid, this problem is only exacerbated by additional symptoms such as fatigue, muscle cramps and weakness. How is one to increase their activity level if there are other physical reasons preventing them from doing so?
Once your thyroid has been diagnosed as hypothyroidism, your Doctor will likely start you on a thyroid hormone regime and will closely monitor your progress. Dosage will be strictly monitored because too much hormone can be as adverse as too little. Once you begin hormone therapy however, the body will begin to balance out and your metabolism should start to function properly again. As always though, check with your Doctor prior to starting any weight loss program, but weight loss is generally easier once the thyroid levels have been stabilized.
