Why the food you eat is not making you fat?

Sometimes you might be feeling that you eat proportionately and yet, you have gained so much weight! Also, neither do you keep munching food frequently, nor do you have an inactive lifestyle. It might be true that your weight gain is beyond your control because silently you might be suffering from a disorder. Yes! Thyroid disorder! To be more specific, hypothyroidism, meaning low levels of thyroid hormones in your body.

Our thyroid gland secretes two hormones T3 (Triiodothyronine) and T4 (Thyroxine). The production of these hormones (chemicals maintaining body functions) are controlled by TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone), which is released from the brain (Pituitary gland).

How does hypothyroidism cause gain weight?

• Thyroid hormones are needed for metabolism, a process by which our body breaks down the food we consume, to obtain energy.
• Metabolism is related to the basal metabolic rate (BMR) i.e. the energy required to perform the basic life functions.
• If the thyroid hormones level decrease the BMR slows down.
• This leads to imbalance in the calories (food) we consume and its utilization by the body to produce energy.
• Thus, accumulation of the excess fat and weight gain occurs.
• Also, imbalance in metabolism leads to accumulation of excess salt and water, again causing the weight gain.

Does supplementing the thyroid hormones reduce the weight gained?

As simple as it might sound it does not really work that way. The weight gained due to hypothyroidism is not sudden and those kilograms were added to your weight over some time. Hence, correction therapy and treatment will stop the weight gain due to under activity of thyroid hormones. Might be you lose some weight added due to salt and water accumulation. However, though it was your thyroid that made you fat, to get back to your normal size and shape it is you who need to do all the hard work.

Did you put on some weight? Don’t just blame it on your sedentary lifestyle or food habits! Check if your thyroid is responsible for it?
Else all you efforts to lose those extra pounds might go in vain!