Underactive thyroid health consequences and how can you lose weight if you have an underactive thyroid? The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck and is a gland with an internal secretion of hormones that play an important role in metabolism. An underactive thyroid has consequences for your health. An underactive thyroid gland can, among other things, affect the blood vessels, causing the heart to function less well. An underactive thyroid gland can also cause a slow heart rate and high cholesterol levels in the blood. It is therefore important that people with an underactive thyroid gland are treated adequately, so that the heart and blood vessels do not experience (permanent) damage.
Underactive thyroid consequences and weight loss
- What is an underactive thyroid?
- Butterfly-shaped gland
- Consequences of an underactive thyroid gland
- Who can suffer from an underactive thyroid?
- More women than men
- Hashimoto’s disease
- Symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland
- Treatment of an underactive thyroid gland
- What is the best way to lose weight with an underactive thyroid?
- Underactive thyroid: lose weight and maintain it
- Sufficient exercise
- Be well adjusted to medications
- Responsible diet
The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck / Source: Arnavaz, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
What is an underactive thyroid?
Butterfly-shaped gland
An underactive thyroid gland, also called hypothyroidism , occurs when the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland, consisting of two connected lobes located on either side of the trachea. The thyroid secretes two hormones that play an important role in the entire metabolism, including the energy consumption of almost all cells and tissues in your body. These thyroid hormones are thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The hormone calcotonin is also secreted. Thyrocalcitonin lowers the calcium level in the blood.
Consequences of an underactive thyroid gland
If treatment is not given, an underactive thyroid gland can lead to problems. The consequence is, among other things, a metabolism that is too low, which can cause complaints such as fatigue, coldness, muscle weakness, sluggishness and constipation, and in addition, the cholesterol level in the blood and blood pressure will increase. Someone with an underactive thyroid gland is therefore more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease. The sooner this abnormality can be diagnosed, the sooner treatment can be initiated and the consequences can be limited.
Examination of the thyroid gland / Source: Istock.com/KatarzynaBialasiewicz
Who can suffer from an underactive thyroid?
More women than men
Mourners are much more likely than men to develop an underactive thyroid gland. The disease is also more common in people over 60 years of age. Women can develop thyroid problems in the first year after giving birth. This is called postpartum thyroiditis and it can result in either an overactive or underactive thyroid gland. Postpartum means ‘after childbirth’. In that case, antibodies are produced against the thyroid and initially complaints may arise due to the release of too many thyroid hormones, after which a deficiency of these hormones occurs, which causes other complaints. This can go away spontaneously. However, a quarter of women with postpartum thyroiditis develop permanent hypothyroidism. Postpartum thyroiditis is a variant of Hashimoto’s disease.
Hashimoto’s disease
A common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease (Hashimoto’s disease), which is often familial. In this disease, the body produces antibodies that attack the thyroid gland and permanently damage it. People who take certain medications can also develop thyroid problems. Some medicines can interfere with the production of thyroid hormones and lead to an underactive thyroid gland.
Symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland
The symptoms of an underactive thyroid vary from person to person and may include:
- fatigue
- weight gain
- swollen face
- coldness
- joint pain and muscle pain
Weight gain / Source: Istock.com/VladimirFLoyd
- tingling in fingers and hands.
- constipation
- dry skin
- dry, thinning hair
- reduced perspiration
- heavy or irregular periods and reduced fertility
- depression
- slowed heart rate
- nipple discharge
- loss of libido (less desire to have sex)
Blood test / Source: Istock.com/anna1311
Treatment of an underactive thyroid gland
A simple blood test can determine whether the complaints you have are the result of an underactive thyroid gland. Treatment is aimed at the underlying cause. If you have an underactive thyroid gland, your doctor may prescribe a synthetic thyroid hormone. As a rule, symptoms will improve about three weeks after starting treatment. Regular checks should determine whether you are receiving the correct dosage. The tablets you are prescribed replace the natural hormones; side effects therefore rarely occur.
What is the best way to lose weight with an underactive thyroid?
The consequence of an underactive thyroid is a slow metabolism. Because energy metabolism is at a lower level, calorie requirements are lower than normal. However, if calorie intake remains unchanged, people will gain weight at a lower burn rate. This balance can be restored with adequate treatment of an underactive thyroid gland. However, this does not happen to everyone and it is still unclear what causes this. In any case, it is difficult to lose the extra pounds, even 5 to 10 kilos. In addition, people with hypothyroidism often feel tired and lack energy, which causes them to exercise less, which is not good for your weight. Joint pain can also cause them to move less. With a reduced metabolism and a lack of exercise, it is extra difficult to lose the extra kilos.
Underactive thyroid: lose weight and maintain it
The following are important for people with an underactive thyroid to maintain or lose weight:
Sufficient exercise
Exercise moderately for at least half an hour every day, despite the fatigue and joint pain that can sometimes accompany the condition. These complaints can improve if you are physically active. The extent to which you can best build up physical activity is different for everyone. Find an activity or sport that suits you and that you enjoy.
Moving is healthy! / Source: Istock.com/monkeybusinessimages
Be well adjusted to medications
The best way to manage weight gain due to hypothyroidism is to get the disease under control. To maintain your weight, it is important that you are well adjusted to the hormone tablets that you are prescribed. Setting the correct dose can sometimes take months. It is best to take the tablets on an empty stomach or before going to bed, as foods can influence the absorption of the thyroid hormone tablets from the intestine. In addition, some nutritional supplements can disrupt absorption.
Responsible diet
You can follow a diet to lose weight, possibly under the guidance of a dietician. The same nutritional and exercise recommendations apply to thyroid patients as to people without a thyroid disorder. A crash diet where you lose excess weight very quickly is strongly not recommended. People who follow a crash diet are at high risk of the so-called yo-yo effect: after you have lost a lot of weight in a short time, the kilos slowly come back and over time you often weigh more than before the diet. By following a crash diet for a number of weeks, you lower your basic metabolism, whereby the body switches to energy saving mode and uses less energy. When you eat normally again after the diet, an energy surplus occurs, which results in weight gain: the yo-yo effect. It is therefore wise to lose weight in a gradual and responsible manner, with a healthy, varied diet and not forgetting sufficient exercise.
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