The tiny thyroid gland located at the base of the throat plays a key role in many bodily functions and experts say there is a relationship between thyroid function, metabolism, and body weight.
Metabolism can be measured by the amount of oxygen the body uses at rest during a specific period of time, or the basal metabolic rate (BMR).
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The American Thyroid Association explains that one of the earliest tests to determine thyroid function was the basal metabolic rate test. Patients with underactive thyroid glands, or hypothyroidism, were found to also have a low BMR.
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists estimates that more than 30 million Americans have some thyroid disorder and that more than half are undiagnosed, and women are up to 10 times more likely to have hypothyroidism.
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s disease, according to the AACE. It affects more than 10 million Americans, mostly women.
Most excess weight gained due to hypothyroidism is due to retention of water and salt, says the American Thyroid Association. It is uncommon for hypothyroidism to cause massive weight gain, and instead, an average gain of only 5 to 10 pounds is typical.
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Women to Women Clinic points out that thyroid problems, menopause, and weight gain often go hand in hand.
Thyroid and weight gain affect women frequently because women experience monthly hormone fluctuations which can affect biochemistry, and because they internalize stress more than men, which can lead to cravings for high-calorie or high-carbohydrate foods.
Finally, the lifelong yo-yo dieting patterns seen commonly in women can undermine a healthy metabolism, particularly during perimenopause.
Dr. Mark Lupo, an endocrinologist in Florida, told AARP that while patients and physicians need to have an awareness of the relationship between hypothyroidism and weight gain, the thyroid usually isn’t to blame in cases where the patient is obese. In these cases, poor eating habits and a lack of physical activity are the likely culprits, he said.
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