Question: I am a hypothyroid female and am overweight. I can’t seem to lose weight, no matter what I do. I’ve tried everything — dieting, exercising — but I can’t lower my weight. What should I do?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Hypothyrodism that is insufficiently controlled can lead to weight gain. Even after thyroid hormone replacement therapy, you may still need to work at weight loss the same way as others who have weight problems.
Remember that weight gain can also occur with other conditions, so be sure you have had an evaluation to be sure no other disorders are associated with your weight gain.
It’s important to balance your dietary intake with your activity levels, so you’re burning off as many — or more — calories as you consume. Full replacement of your deficient hormone should prevent further weight gain as long as your dietary intake and activity are well balanced.
You can ask for a referral to a dietician to assess your diet and help you development a reasonable eating plan. You should also see your doctor for clearance to increase your activity and exercise levels to help normalize your weight.
Perhaps you should try to avoid large meals before bed and spread your food intake over at least three meals.
It may also be that you need to consider a surgical route if your medical adjustments are failing and your obesity remains problematic. Procedures such as laparoscopic gastric banding are simple surgeries, and are very popular. Although most of us prefer to avoid surgery, it may be a reasonable alternative when aggressive medical and dietary measures have failed to produce reasonable results.
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