What is the thyroid gland?
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the anterior box of the neck. A normal, healthy thyroid gland is usually not visible from the outside and is difficult to palpate.
The hormones produced by the thyroid, T3 and T4, are released into the bloodstream and then transported to the target organs (e.g. brain, heart, muscles).
What is the relationship between thyroid and weight?
Thyroid hormones regulate how the human body uses the energy available to it, influencing the human metabolic rate (BMR). This is a mechanism by which the human body gains or loses weight. The basal metabolic rate is the number of calories burned by the body at rest while breathing. Patients suffering from thyroid disorders have a metabolic rate that is outside normal parameters. Although thyroid hormones are the important pawns in the relationship with BMR, there are other pieces on the chess board such as other hormones or proteins that interact with different parts of the brain and body to control energy balance. Thus, the link between weight, metabolism and thyroid diseases is a complex one, and the alteration of a single factor is not necessarily responsible for changes in weight.
Hypothyroidism – insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones
Because hypothyroidism is associated with a low BMI, patients tend to be overweight up to 5 kilograms. As a rule, weight gain is directly proportional to thyroid hormone deficiency. Weight gain in this case is due to salt and water retention in the tissues rather than fat deposition. Thus, once hypothyroidism is treated with hormone replacement therapy, a slight weight loss (on average 10% of body mass) can be expected. Beware, if all other symptoms associated with hypothyroidism (cold intolerance, cognitive dysfunction, constipation, growth retardation, bradylagia, bradypsy, bradycardia, delayed tendon reflexes, bradycardia) are resolved after treatment, except for weight gain, it is most likely that the thyroid was not solely responsible for the problem.
Hyperthyroidism – excessive secretion of thyroid hormones
Patients with an overactive thyroid gland have an increased BMR, thus rapid burning, contributing to weight loss, and in this case, directly proportional to the excess thyroid hormones. However, hyperthyroidism increases food appetite, so some patients do not necessarily lose weight, but may even gain weight, depending on how much their caloric intake increases. As a general rule, the pounds lost during hyperthyroidism are regained after treatment with synthetic antithyroid drugs. A small weight gain may also occur if the increased caloric intake during the illness to compensate for the extra energy expenditure is maintained after treatment.
Referinte:
https://www.thyroid.org/
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