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Properly treated hypothyroidism may not lead to weight gain
Patients with hypothyroidism are not at risk for weight gain when treated properly, according to recent study findings published in Endocrine Practice.
“It seems that maintaining [thyroid-stimulating hormone] in the lower half of the normal range versus the upper half of the normal range does not result in lower body weight,” Farah H. Morgan, MD, of the division of endocrinology at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, told Endocrine Today. “Therefore, adjusting thyroid medication within the normal range to achieve weight loss is unlikely. In addition, treated hypothyroidism should not result in higher body weight compared to patients without hypothyroidism.”
Farah H. Morgan
Morgan and colleagues evaluated 245 patients with hypothyroidism and 162 controls seen within the Cooper Health System in 2014 to determine whether patients treated for hypothyroidism were more overweight compared with controls. Researchers also sought to determine whether patients with treated hypothyroidism with thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in the lower half of the normal range had a lower BMI compared with those with TSH in the upper half of the normal range.
Compared with controls, patients with hypothyroidism had slightly higher median TSH (P < .01). Mean BMI was similar between the two groups (controls, 30.5 kg/m2; hypothyroidism group, 31.4 kg/m2).
No significant relationships were found between BMI and TSH in either group. In addition, higher TSH levels were not associated with an increase in BMI.
“Patients with hypothyroidism who believe they can’t lose weight due to their hypothyroidism may feel unmotivated to make lifestyle changes,” Morgan told Endocrine Today. “Counseling them regarding these findings may help them make necessary lifestyle changes for weight loss.” – by Amber Cox
For more information:
Farah H. Morgan, MD, can be reached at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, 1210 Brace Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034; email: morgan-farah@cooperhealth.edu.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.