Hypothyroidism and Weight Gain
An under active thyroid leads to Hypothyroidism.
It is a condition in which your metabolism usually does
not work at the normal speed meaning that it becomes
easier for you gain weight, and harder to lose
weight. You can avoid weight gain in the first place,
by making a deliberate diet change and adding more exercise
to your program.
The longer the delay between getting hypothyroid treated,
the more weight gain is likely.Some people will see
their metabolism return to normal, and their weight
will return to normal after a few months on thyroid
treatment, with normal diet and exercise.
Some weight loss might be noticeable at the beginning
of treatment for some patients, as bloating and water
retention is reduced by the thyroid treatment. The weight
gained due to the slowdown in metabolism will need to
be worked off with a change in diet and an increase
in exercise.
Opinions differ about the best
diet for thyroid patients - Some lose
weight by following the Weight
Watchers program, others lose weight with "The Zone"
diet that involves balancing carbohydrates with protein
and fats. For some a diet of low-calorie, protein-sufficient,
low-glycemic diets low in saturated fat, but not low
in good fats seem to work best.
You will probably need some form of exercise
in order to achieve weight control with a
thyroid condition. Exercises like walking, running,
cycling, etc. burns calories. And weight-bearing/muscle-building
exercises - such as weight lifting, resistance bands,
or exercises such as squats and pushups, build muscle.
Muscle burns more calories than fat, so the more muscle
you have, the more calories you burn each day, even
at rest! So typically, your exercise program should
include both aerobics and muscle building.
A few simple diet changes can make you healthy:
- Eat green leafy vegetables and vitamin C-rich foods
such as citrus fruits. A diet filled with fruits and
vegetables is considered helpful to all sorts of health
conditions.
- Drink more nutrient-packed beverages like fruit
juices. Fruit juices will are excellent source of
vitamins,
minerals and other healthful substances required by
your body. And do not forget to drink plain water
since many of us are chronically dehydrated.
- Change from plain grains to whole grains. Whole
grains could reduce heart disease risk, different
types of cancer and protect against diabetes.
Hyperthyroidism and Weight
In contrast, when someone is hyperthyroid, the increase
in metabolism can either cause inappropriate weight
loss, or an increase in appetite (without weight gain.)
When the overactivity is corrected, the weight that
was inappropriately lost may be gained back, or the
appetite may remain the same, but metabolism slows,
causing weight gain. |
