Having Problems Losing Weight? Could a Sluggish Thyroid Gland Be the Problem?

You’ve done everything right. You’ve exercised every day. You’ve cut out fatty foods, carbohydrates and junk food from your diet. You’ve tried every weight loss and detoxification remedy. Yet, those unwanted pounds will not go away.

Don’t give up on living healthy, because it may not be your fault. You may have a sluggish thyroid gland.

What is the thyroid gland?
The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland located in your neck, right in front of the windpipe. Its main job is to produce hormones that regulate heart rate, metabolism and assists the function of other organs.

Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers which triggers functions in other organs. In this case, the thyroid produces triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Also known as T3 and T4 (the number is the amount of iodine molecules they contain), these hormones are critical to proper metabolism.

Sometimes, when the thyroid does not produce enough of these chemicals, it causes a condition called hypothyroidism. Too much thyroidal hormones cause hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism and Weight Gain

Any fluctuation in your weight or diet directly affects your metabolism. Often, a doctor will measure a patient’s metabolic rate by studying how oxygen is used by the body over a period of time. This is the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The BMR in a patient with hypothyroidism is low, an indicator of hypothyroidism.

Weight gain is not the only symptom of hypothyroidism. These include:

• Sluggishness
• Depression
• Dry Skin
• Goiters – an enlargement of the thyroid gland
• Constipation
• Tingling of the hands and feet

What causes an imbalanced thyroid?
Women over 50 have an increased risk of hypothyroidism, yet certain diseases and treatments may cause this disorder.

• Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto thyroiditis
• Treatment for hyperthyroidism
• Radiation therapy
• Thyroid surgery
• Medications such as lithium
• Birth defect of the thyroid gland
• Pregnancy
• Iodine deficiency

Oprah Winfrey has always had recurring issues with her weight. In conjunction with diet and exercise, she has treated her recurring weight issues with hormone therapy.

Can Bio-Identical Thyroid Replacement Therapy Help You Lose Weight?

Hypothyroidism can be treated with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).  The traditional procedure is to use synthetic hormones, but BHRT uses natural hormones that are identical to the ones released by the body.

After a blood work is done to determine if BHRT is necessary, the doctor can administer T3 and T4 hormones in pill form. This treatment should raise the hormones to their correct levels. Within weeks of the treatment, the patient could lose up to 10% of the body weight, have more energy and an improved metabolic rate. Also, some patients may have a healthier completion.

Conclusion:

While nothing beats a proper diet and exercise as a means to lose weight, proper regulation of thyroidal hormones can improve the metabolic rate, causing the patient to lose weight.