Weight Gain: Is It Because Of The Thyroid?
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck. While it’s small in size, it’s big in function. The thyroid gland regulates the thyroid hormones, which play an important role in numerous body processes. These include regulating body temperature, weight, heart rate, and more. When the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism occurs.
SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM
Mild hypothyroidism typically does not present with any symptoms, but can progress to more serious levels where symptoms become apparent. As the thyroid gland controls the body’s metabolism, hypothyroidism decreases one’s metabolic rate. This results in weight gain, amongst other symptoms such as:
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Hair loss
Constipation
Irregular menstrual periods
Impaired memory
Muscle weakness
IS WEIGHT GAIN ALWAYS DUE TO THYROID ISSUES?
Most of the time, weight gain is not caused by hypothyroidism. Weight gain can be due to a combination of different factors such as reduced activity, increased food intake, or even just insufficient sleep. If you’ve ruled out all of these factors as reasons for your weight gain, and are also experiencing other symptoms of hypothyroidism, it may be time to get checked for hypothyroidism.
GETTING HYPOTHYROIDISM DIAGNOSED
Gender and personal or family medical history play a part in determining your risk of thyroid disorders. A blood test for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is used for diagnosing thyroid disorders, where your T3 and T4 hormone levels are investigated. Speak to a doctor on getting a TSH test done. Speedoc’s Life Max health screening package provides a one-stop comprehensive checkup for a variety of health indicators, including thyroid function, in the comfort of your home. Email us or submit an enquiry form on our website to book an appointment!
MANAGING WEIGHT GAIN DUE TO HYPOTHYROIDISM
If a correlation has been found between your weight gain and hypothyroidism, the first step would be to treat the hypothyroidism and get your thyroid hormones back in balance. Speak to your doctor for a personalised treatment plan that works for you.
For convenient, fuss-free management, try our Chronic Disease Home Management (CDHMâ„¢) programme, an obligation-free programme that provides a personalised and structured treatment plan for chronic conditions, such as hypothyroidism.
