Hypothyroid & Weight Loss

By Dr. Kevin Dobrzynski


The hypothyroid weight loss struggle is a common battle for those with hypothyroidism. If you've failed to lose weight despite dieting, it's possible that your thyroid is to blame.

At least 27 million people in the US suffer from thyroid conditions, and many of them go undiagnosed. Hypothyroidism is the most common form where your thyroid glands are underactive. This condition does not just affect people from the US, but people from other developing countries can also experience thyroid issues.

When you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, it means your metabolic system is not functioning as it should be. Losing weight will be a constant battle. To make things worse, low-calorie foods may also worsen your condition by slowing down your metabolic rate.

Here is where the real problem lies

Hypothyroidism is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. So, you can have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism and your doctor may still fail to detect the problem.

The correct diagnosis of this disorder is often missed due to its symptoms. People suffering from this thyroid condition will tell you that their entire body is affected.

Another reason why doctors miss the correct diagnosis of this condition is that the blood test is often inconclusive. The test is called TSH, and it has up to 80 percent chance of not recognizing the disorder.

If you believe you have a thyroid problem, you must act on it right away!

Start by monitoring your symptoms. Keep a journal and grade your symptoms on a scale of 0-3 (0 = not present or not applicable, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe). Keep a journal for a minimum of a week and up to a month, dating all your entries.

Now you are ready to perform the at-home body thermometer test. Body temperature is one of the most obvious signs that your metabolism is depressed.

Place a thermometer by your bedside the night before the test. First thing in the morning, even before you get out of bed, place a thermometer under your armpit for ten minutes without moving. Any movement will throw off the accuracy of the test.

You must test your body temperature for the next three days. If you are a woman and menstruating, carry out this test on the 2nd and 3rd day of your cycle. You should know that if you are currently suffering from infections, the test may give inaccurate results.

Ideal temperature readings should be between 97.8 to 98.2. If the result is below this, then you have a thyroid problem. Your battle to lose weight is not over until your metabolism and body temperature become normal.

You should take your daily journal list and your body temperature test to your ear, nose and throat specialist. These doctors are more experienced in the field of endocrinology than general physicians.

Hypothyroid and weight loss struggles go hand-in-hand. If you're convinced that you have a problem, yet your doctor disagrees, or your lab tests don't support your suspicion, don't give up. Try another doctor and keep looking until you find one that will listen to you. You are your own best doctor and you know your body better than anyone.




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