Why would thyroid issues cause weight gain?

I don't understand this. All bodily processes and cells require fuel aka calories. Someone who weighs a certain weight and who has a certain activity level will require x number of calories.

What, exactly, is it that a thyroid issue does to supposedly make people gain weight?

Replies

Verdenal

trjjoy wrote: »

paperpudding wrote: »

untreated hypothyroidism will certainly cause weight gain (unless you eat much less) - metabolism will be slower, person will move less, sleep more, get constipated.
is still CICO - the calories out side is much lower.

Why would CO be much lower? A body consists of cells that need calories/energy. A body with hypothyroidism doesn't lose limbs or organs so that body would still need a certain amount of calories to function because it still has all those cells and bodily processes to maintain.

Weight loss is not a simple manner of CICO. Our bodies aren't simply engines that burn fuel. There are processes that are influenced by numerous hormones which do things like control or suppress our appetite, store excess calories as fat or immediately use it. The hormones secreted by the thyroid influence metabolic rate, among other things. As these processes are complex and not yet fully understood by scientists, it remains an excellent idea to calculate the calorie deficit you need to lose weight and to track calories. But it's only an estimate. No one burns the same amount of calories every day.

Pearl4686

AnnPT77 wrote: »

Perla4686 wrote: »

Seeing I've found a group of knowledgeable people, here's a question...
I've been hypoththyroid for 8 years and always been stable on levothyroxine. Recently, I've developed tremors in my hands and sometimes heart palpitations (both only occasionally, but especially when skipping meals) I suspect I may be hypoglycemic and Dr Google me this is quite common with hypothyroidism. I feel totally fine and full of energy besides for that. I will obviously get checked out (although may take awhile to get an appointment- NHS!) but I'm curious if any of you have experienced this...

When was your last thyroid blood test? Those can be hyperthyroid symptoms, too. Levo dosage sometimes needs adjustment, and weight loss triggers that need for some.

Thank you for replying. It's been awhile...in fact since after my baby was born and she just turned one. I also recently stopped breastfeeding so that may have something to do with it. Time for another blood test I guess... (Dreading a lower dose as predicting weight gain

, but rather be healthy!)

AnnPT77

Perla4686 wrote: »

AnnPT77 wrote: »

Perla4686 wrote: »

Seeing I've found a group of knowledgeable people, here's a question...
I've been hypoththyroid for 8 years and always been stable on levothyroxine. Recently, I've developed tremors in my hands and sometimes heart palpitations (both only occasionally, but especially when skipping meals) I suspect I may be hypoglycemic and Dr Google me this is quite common with hypothyroidism. I feel totally fine and full of energy besides for that. I will obviously get checked out (although may take awhile to get an appointment- NHS!) but I'm curious if any of you have experienced this...

When was your last thyroid blood test? Those can be hyperthyroid symptoms, too. Levo dosage sometimes needs adjustment, and weight loss triggers that need for some.

Thank you for replying. It's been awhile...in fact since after my baby was born and she just turned one. I also recently stopped breastfeeding so that may have something to do with it. Time for another blood test I guess... (Dreading a lower dose as predicting weight gain , but rather be healthy!)

Weight gain may not result. Consider the range of posts above: People have varying experiences. Ideally, your doctor will go not just by numbers, but by how you feel. (From others' comments on various threads, I gather this may be a problem with some doctors, and perhaps especially with NHS. My doctor is fine with me being right at or even just a bit below the 'normal' TSH threshold, because I feel better there, and don't have any symptoms of hyperthyroidism.)

Best wishes!