People who have slow thyroid, or hypothyroidism, often find it not just hard but practically impossible to lose weight if their condition is untreated or improperly treated. According to Mary Shomon, author of "Living Well With Hypothyroidism," difficulty with weight loss is the biggest challenge for people with hypothyroidism. This is because the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland, at the base of the neck, is intricately connected to the body's ability to generate energy and burn calories. Hypothyroidism, or slow thyroid, exists when the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormones or when the body cannot properly convert and use these hormones.
Weight Loss Obstacles
Hypothyroidism slows the body's metabolism, which makes it more difficult to lose weight. Hypothyroidism also causes fatigue, making it hard for a person with an underactive thyroid to muster enough energy and motivation for exercise. Depression, another common hypothyroidism symptom, also affects a person's ability to exercise. This combination can put the brakes on any weight loss attempts.
Medication Boosts Weight Loss
Many people take thyroid hormone replacement medication that increases their metabolism and gives them more energy for exercise. For many, natural desiccated thyroid medications, which include T4 and T3 hormones, work better in resolving weight loss challenges than synthetic drugs and those that include only T4 hormone.
If you struggle with trying to lose weight, even though you are taking medication, changing to a different thyroid medication, or increasing your dosage, could significantly help weight loss efforts.
Factors Related to Thyroid Weight Issues
Other hormones -- including estrogen, progesterone and insulin--- are related to thyroid hormones, and having them all in balance is necessary for losing weight. Many people who have slow thyroid also have adrenal fatigue, which can contribute to weight loss challenges as well. Ensuring that the adrenal glands are functioning properly is thus important when trying to lose weight with a slow thyroid gland.
Lifestyle and Weight Loss
Proper food selection and exercise can also improve thyroid function and thus help you lose weight. Cut out refined foods, sugar, processed foods and additives. Many people who have hypothyroidism find a gluten-free or grain-free diet helpful. Eat plenty of quality protein and low-glycemic vegetables. Healthy fats, especially coconut oil, are beneficial. Getting enough iodine is critical, because iodine is a building block for making thyroid hormones.
Weight-bearing exercise, such as lifting free weights or using resistance bands, builds strength and improves metabolism, and anything that boosts metabolism helps a slow thyroid.
References
- Thyroid-Info: Losing Weight With Hypothyroidism
- "Living Well With Hypothyroidism"; 2000; Mary J. Shomon
- "Thyroid Power: 10 Steps to Total Health"; 2001; Richard L. Shames, M.D. and Karilee Halo Shames, R.N., Ph.D.
- Weight Gain & T4 Replacement
- Stop the Thyroid Madness
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