Hypothyroidism is a dysfunction of the thyroid that often leads to weight gain in people who suffer from it. A healthy lifestyle and an appropriate diet as well as drug treatment help to curb this phenomenon. Why do you gain weight when you have hypothyroidism? Why are women more affected? What diet to adopt?
Why can you gain weight when you have hypothyroidism?
Among the functions of thyroid hormones, there is the regulation of energy expenditure and the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins. “When the thyroid no longer secretes enough hormones, everything slows down, starting with the basal metabolism, that is to say the energy spent at rest, explains Dr. Nys. If it burns less than the calorie intake remains constant, the energy balance leans on the wrong side, and we store.
Hypothyroidism produces a direct effect on the body:
The The functioning of the thyroid is closely linked to our lifestyle. When a person is suffering from hypothyroidism, he is prone to weight gain, in particular because of the fatigue that this dysfunction implies. “Hypothyroidism often induces fatigue which leads patients to reduce their physical activity. However, this is the only variable on which we can act. Result: if expenses drop without any food adjustment being put in place, we grow! Added to this is marked water retention. This overweight is however to be put into perspective according to the endocrinologist: “The weight gain is not too significant, generally around 4-5 kilos. If it is more, it is not certain that the thyroid is responsible, and the lifestyle must be revised One thing is certain: whether or not the pounds are attributable to thyroid dysfunction, it slows down their elimination.
Is drug treatment not enough to curb weight gain?
“Even more and more reliable, treatments do not always ensure stable day-to-day well-being,” notes Dr. Nys. No medication can compete with the finesse of endogenous hormonal secretions. Also, some people don’t respond well to treatment.
“In the case of hypothyroidism, we often administer T4,” says Véronique Liesse. However, it is not an active hormone: it must be converted into T3, the true active form of thyroid hormones. We sometimes observe anomalies in the transformation of T4 into T3, in particular linked to micronutritional deficiencies. Finally, not all people are treated, as when hypothyroidism is not very marked (high TSH but normal T3 and T4). There, the hygiene of life must take over Hence the importance of practising physical activity and watching your diet. To curb weight gain when the metabolism becomes slower, you have to eat better and burn more.
