How Thyroid Issues Affect Weight Loss and Energy Levels?

Introduction

The relationship between thyroid problems and weight gain is unclear. Individuals who gain weight without obvious symptoms, such as a swollen body or an unpleasant quantity of fat, could question whether their problems are caused by a thyroid condition or obesity. It is thought that even small changes to thyroid function could lead to weight gain.

In actuality, many women whose thyroid test results are reported as “normal” may still have subclinical hypothyroidism, which is sufficient to cause weight gain and other uncomfortable symptoms. Studies have shown that 76.5% of hypothyroid and 58.8% of hyperthyroid patients are overweight or obese, and many thyroid patients find it difficult to maintain their weight. This article explains why and how thyroid dysfunction affects a person’s weight, as well as the relationship between thyroid and weight management.

What is the connection between weight and thyroid?

The thyroid is a tiny, butterfly-shaped gland situated under the Adam’s apple on the front of the neck. Because it generates hormones that aid in controlling the body’s growth, development, and metabolism, this little organ is very important.

The main hormones this organ produces are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), both of which have an impact on the body’s metabolism. Because they control how the body utilizes energy and burns calories, these hormones have a big influence on managing weight. This raises serious concerns about the connection between thyroid and weight.

Thyroid disease, body weight, and metabolism are all intricately related. Metabolism is the process of converting food into energy, and it can be measured by the amount of energy the body uses over time. At rest, this is called the BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate). BMR influences energy balance, which is the relationship between calories consumed and calories used by the body; a high BMR results in more calories burned, which may cause weight loss; a low BMR results in fewer calories burned, which may result in weight gain.

Low thyroid hormone levels lower BMR, while high thyroid hormone levels increase BMR in thyroid diseases. BMR, however, does not fully explain the relationship between thyroid and weight. Numerous additional hormones, proteins, and substances also play a role in changes in weight.

What connection exists between BMR and weight?

Changes in energy balance are linked to variations in BMRs. The difference between the quantity of calories consumed and the quantity of calories expended by the body is reflected in energy balance. Animals that are given medicines, such as amphetamines, that cause a high BMR frequently experience a negative energy balance, which results in weight loss.

Many people have concluded that variations in thyroid hormone levels, which result in variations in BMR, should also result in variations in energy balance and comparable variations in body weight. But when it comes to weight and thyroid, BMRs are not the complete picture. For example, animals frequently do not exhibit the anticipated excess weight gain when their metabolic rates are lowered by several methods (such as lowering body temperature). Weight fluctuations, energy balance, and metabolic rates are therefore intricately linked. Thyroid hormone is just one of numerous hormones, proteins, and other substances that are crucial for regulating body weight, food intake, and energy expenditure.

It is challenging to predict the impact of changing just one of these factors (like thyroid hormone) on body weight overall because all these substances interact on both the brain regions that regulate energy expenditure and tissues throughout the body that control energy intake and expenditure. Because of this, it is currently impossible to predict how a person’s body weight will be affected by a changing thyroid condition.

Role of Metabolism

Your metabolism uses a variety of mechanisms to break down food and turn it into the energy your body needs to function. It also establishes how quickly your body burns calories. Your metabolism’s efficiency is mostly determined by your genetics.

Carrying out daily duties and exercising burns calories. Your body uses energy even while you’re asleep. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the term used to describe how effectively it does this. Your body stores excess energy as fat when you eat more than it needs, causing weight gain.

Can I lose weight using thyroid hormone?

In the past, thyroid hormones were utilized to help people lose weight. Numerous studies have demonstrated that excess thyroid hormone therapy can contribute to greater weight loss than dieting alone. However, the extra weight loss is typically recovered after the excess thyroid hormone is stopped.

Moreover, using thyroid hormone to aid in weight loss may have serious adverse effects, including the loss of muscle protein in addition to any reduction in body fat. It is doubtful that increasing the thyroid hormone dosage will result in a major weight change and may result in other metabolic issues.

How Does Hypothyroidism Affect Your Weight?

T3 and T4 hormone production is inadequate when the thyroid gland is underactive. This results in hypothyroidism, a disorder that affects about 350 million people, most of whom are female. An underactive thyroid might increase a woman’s chance of infertility if treatment is not received. In the end, it causes obesity, thyroid issues, and diseases associated with depression.

Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, can cause a wide variety of mild to severe symptoms.

Common signs and symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Gaining weight
• Having dry skin and feeling chilly
• Changes in hair
• Constipation
• Obesity and thyroid issues may also affect the heart, resulting in a slower heart rate and exhaustion during exercise. Some women may struggle to conceive due to irregular menstruation.

Myxedema coma, a potentially lethal disease characterized by low body temperature and unconsciousness, can occasionally occur in severe cases. These symptoms may be lessened with thyroid hormone replacement medication.

How Does Hyperthyroidism Affect Your Weight?

An overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, results in an excessive amount of T3 and T4, which can accelerate metabolism. This increased metabolic rate might cause weight loss and thyroid issues, even while appetite is increased.

Ten percent of patients with hyperthyroidism may gain weight instead of losing it. Some studies suggest that therapy can cause significant weight gain, even though the effect on weight can vary.

Signs and Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

Sometimes hyperthyroidism is mistaken for other medical conditions. Diagnosis could be difficult as a result.

Several other symptoms include:

• Loss of weight naturally
• Tachycardia, or an accelerated heartbeat
• An irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia
• Palpitations, or hammering of the heart
• A greater appetite
• Nervousness, anxiety, and irritation
• Tremor is usually characterized by a minor trembling of the fingers and hands.
• Sweat
• Menstrual cycle modifications: Increased sensitivity to heat
• Bowel habits that have changed, especially the frequency of bowel movements
• Swelling near the base of the neck may result from a goiter, or enlargement of the thyroid gland.
• Tiredness
• Lack of muscle strength

Symptoms that are hard to identify are increasingly common in older persons.

When Should I Consult a Physician?

Your primary care physician can help you manage your weight and thyroid, especially if you have hypothyroidism. It’s a good idea to get evaluated by a doctor if you have any of these symptoms:

Significant weight increase or decrease without a clear cause is referred to as “unexplained weight changes.”
Lethargy and Fatigue: Feeling lethargic or exhausted all the time, even after resting.
Being intolerant of either heat or cold is known as sensitivity to temperature.
Unusual Menstrual periods: Thyroid problems can cause irregular menstrual periods in women.
Digestive Problems: Thyroid conditions can cause constipation or diarrhea.

FAQs

References:

• American Thyroid Association. (2024, August 13). Thyroid and weight | American Thyroid Association. https://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-and-weight/
• Thyroid and weight – the science. (n.d.). British Thyroid Foundation. https://www.btf thyroid.org/thyroid-and-weight-the-science
• Thyroid and weight management. (n.d.). https://apollodiagnostics.in/blogs/thyroid-and-weight management-unraveling-the-metabolic-connection