Thyroid and weight management
The Thyroid Gland And Weight Management
The thyroid gland does many things in the body, but its role in weight management is its best-known responsibility. However, to fully take advantage of your thyroid gland to lose or maintain weight, you want to understand how it works and what thyroid issues can cause this gland to make achieving a healthy weight more difficult.
The thyroid gland influences your weight because it plays an important role in your metabolic rate. Metabolism works similar to a chemical laboratory. It occurs because of a combination of hormones, molecules, and messenger chemicals from the intestinal tract, brain, and fat cells.
All of this comes together to influence how effectively the body is able to burn calories. The major components of metabolism are hormones produced by the thyroid, which is why it plays such an important role.
T3 and T4 hormones produced by the thyroid have many roles in the body in addition to ensuring a proper metabolic rate, such as increasing fat breakdown, controlling the oxygen use by cells, and regulating body temperature and heart rate.
The Hormone Stimulating Process
The hypothalamus, and the pituitary gland located in the brain assist the thyroid in its functions. The hypothalamus produces and releases thyrotrophic-releasing hormone, referred to as TRH hormone, which prompts the pituitary gland to release its own hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH.
Both TRH and TSH then regulate the thyroid as to the increase, decrease, or storage of T3 and T4 hormones that it produces as needed by the body.
Therefore, when thyroid hormone levels are low, more TRH and TSH is produced to prompt the thyroid to make T3 and T4, conversely when the levels of those are too high, less TRH and TSH is released. A delicate balance of give and take that when disrupted can cause issues in the inner workings of the body, weight management and metabolism.
The hormones of main concern in weight control are those produced by the thyroid, triiodothyronine or T3 and thyroxine or T4. The raw material used to support these hormones is iodine, which is obtained from food.
T3, while produced in smaller amounts, is more powerful. If you have too little of the T3 hormone, you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. When the thyroid gland is not functioning at the right level (meaning it is underactive), metabolism will not work efficiently, which results in weight gain or significant difficulty in maintaining a healthy weight.
Many people also experience issues like muscle pain and fatigue, both of which can contribute to weight gain.
Signs That Inability To Lose Weight Is Due To The Thyroid Gland
If your thyroid gland is the cause of your weight gain or difficulty managing your weight, there are signs that your thyroid gland is not functioning properly. If you are having difficulty with your weight, think about whether any of the following apply to you:
- History of thyroid disorders in your family
- You have carpal tunnel syndrome, migraines or a mitral valve prolapse
- You are left-handed
- You have an abnormal body temperature
- You have premature gray hair before turning 40 years old
- Your feet and hands are often cold
- You have issues with your female reproductive systems or female hormones
- Your energy drops noticeably throughout the day
There are also cardinal signs that are common with a thyroid disorder, including:
- Dry hair
- Thinning hair
- High cholesterol
- Dry skin
- High blood pressure
- Low libido
With thyroid disorders being relatively common, especially underactive thyroid, it is important to understand how this gland works to regulate weight and body fat. If you are doing everything right, but are unable to lose weight, or you are gaining weight, you should talk to your doctor.
A simple blood test can tell you if your thyroid gland is to blame. If it is not functioning properly, your doctor can prescribe the proper treatment and once the condition is under control, you will find weight loss and weight management easier.