Hypothyroidism and weight
How much weight a slow thyroid really explains, and how much it does not.
Culpar al hipotiroidismo por 20 kilos de más es uno de los mitos metabólicos más comunes en la consulta.
The thyroid works like the accelerator of metabolism. When it makes less hormone than the body needs —hypothyroidism— the body spends less energy, and that shows up as tiredness, feeling cold, dry skin and some weight gain.
But that gain is modest: according to the American Thyroid Association it is usually 2 to 5 kilos (about 5 to 10 pounds), and most of it is retained water and salt, not fat. A gain of 10 or 20 kilos is not explained by the gland alone. Treatment with thyroid hormone corrects the metabolism and clears that fluid, but losing fat still depends on diet and movement.
