Your thyroid gland regulates your metabolism and can affect your ability to gain or lose weight. Uncontrolled high thyroid levels can lead to a rapid and undesirable weight loss. If you are experiencing a rapid weight loss, you should see a physician as soon as possible to determine the cause. If you are overweight and suspect a thyroid problem, see a doctor for evaluation of your symptoms, but don't expect to experience a rapid weight loss even if a thyroid disorder is diagnosed and treated.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, or underproduction of thyroid hormones, can cause symptoms such as fatigue, dry hair and skin, and difficulty losing weight. However, hypothyroidism is rarely the cause of a large weight gain, according to the American Thyroid Association. Accumulated salt and water are responsible for much of the weight gain, so once a person's thyroid levels are adjusted, she should expect to lose no more than 5 to 10 pounds, depending on the severity of the hypothyroidism. Her ability to gain or lose weight remains similar to other people without thyroid problems. Thyroid medication should be used only under a doctor's direction and never as a "diet" pill, or as a method of rapid weight loss.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism, an overproduction of hormones by the thyroid, can occur for a number of reasons. Untreated hyperthyroidism can cause you to suffer a rapid weight loss, even though you may have an increased appetite. Additional symptoms may include heart palpitations, nervousness, insomnia and hair loss. Symptoms often occur so gradually that you may become severely affected before realizing that you have a problem, according to the website Endocrine Web.
Grave's Disease
Grave's disease is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body's immune system attacks healthy thyroid tissue. In addition to causing rapid weight loss and all the other symptoms of hyperthyroidism, Grave's disease can also cause a goiter--an enlarged thyroid gland--and protruding eyes. Doctors may treat Grave's disease with anti-thyroid medication, radioactive iodine treatment or surgery.
Thyroid Medication
If you are taking a prescribed thyroid hormone replacement medication, you can experience weight loss if your dosage is too strong or if you are not taking it properly. If you suspect that your thyroid medication dosage requires adjustment, do not attempt to change it yourself, contact your physician promptly. Synthroid and other common thyroid medications have a long half-life, meaning they remain in your system for a long time. Even after your dosage is corrected, it may take several weeks before you notice a change in your condition.
Thyroid Testing
If you are experiencing rapid weight loss, or if you feel that you are unable to lose weight, your doctor will most likely use blood tests to evaluate your thyroid levels. TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone levels reveal whether the thyroid is functioning normally. T4 and T3 blood tests measure the amount of hormones being secreted by the thyroid. A thyroid antibody test may be ordered for a patient suspected of having an autoimmune disorder. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also order a thyroid scan, ultrasound or a radioactive iodine uptake test.
Member Comments