Weight Gain
Hypothyroidism can cause unexplained weight gain. Because thyroid hormones promote the burning of glucose for energy, the most noticeable effects of hypothyroidism – fatigue, weight gain, and sensitivity to cold - have to do with a slowdown in energy and heat production. Thyroid hormones also regulate tissue growth and development, help maintain blood pressure and fluid balance, and affect the workings of virtually every cell in your body.
There is a reason why the human body is meant to function at 98.6 degrees. This is the temperature at which enzymes function the most efficiently. There are two main thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T3), the active hormone and thyroxine (T4), the inactive thyroid hormone. T4 must be converted into T3 in order to be used in your cells. When there is not enough T3 inside the cell, your body’s chemical reactions begin to slow down.
You should always consider the possibility that your thyroid, which regulates the metabolism, may not be functioning at an optimal level. Once your cells receive the thyroid hormone they need, your energy level will return, enabling you to lose the extra weight and have the energy to exercise again. Click here to learn about our approach to treating hypothyroidism.