If you have suddenly noticed unexplained weight gain despite no changes in your appetite, you might wonder if hyperthyroidism is the cause.
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland, part of the endocrine system, produces too much thyroid hormone.
Thyroid disorders are responsible for either slowing down or speeding up the body’s metabolism.
The opposite of hyperthyroidism is hypothyroidism. It occurs when the thyroid gland is underactive, producing inadequate amounts of hormone and slowing down the metabolism.
It is hypothyroidism, not hyperthyroidism, that typically causes unexplained weight gain even when diet and appetite have not changed. In fact, weight gain is a classic symptom of hypothyroidism,
says the Mayo Clinic.
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With hyperthyroidism, the overproduction of thyroid hormones leads to excessively high metabolic rate,
says Healthline. The appetite usually increases, and even with increased calorie consumption, weight loss can occur for many patients.
Other symptoms include anxiety, tremors in the hands, rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure, excessive sweating, and a low tolerance for heat.
For some patients, particularly those who were overweight prior to being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, weight gain after treatment can be a frustrating outcome,
says Dr. Susan Braithwaite, a staff physician at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois and professor at University of Illinois-Chicago.
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Treatment of hyperthyroidism usually involves drugs that block hormone production, once again slowing down the metabolism.
Braithwaite explains that the amount of weight gain after hyperthyroid treatment depends largely on two factors: how much weight was lost prior to treatment and whether or not the patient has a tendency to be overweight in general. She says that some patients not only regain all the weight that was lost prior to treatment, but continue to gain even more.
Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism require treatment, asserts Braithwaite. If left untreated, they eventually begin to produce symptoms that are much more troubling than changes in weight.
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