Could your weight gain be due to an under active thyroid?
At first, you may barely notice the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain. Or you may think they are just part of getting older. But as your metabolism continues to slow, you may develop more obvious problems. Weight gain and under active thyroid is a common issue in women.
The symptoms of hypothyroidism depend on the severity of the condition. Problems tend to develop slowly, often over several years. But they can also appear suddenly – women can often have thyroid problems after the birth of baby.
Weight gain can be just one symptom, other symptoms may include:
- Tiredness
- More sensitivity to cold
- Constipation
- Dry skin
- Weight gain
- Puffy face
- Hoarse voice
- Coarse hair and skin
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
- Menstrual cycles that are heavier than usual or irregular
- Thinning hair
- Slowed heart rate, also called bradycardia
- Depression
- Memory problems
Most Doctors will test for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which can be a good starting point – this is the most basic test for thyroid function, but this is only one marker and can miss early stages of thyroid dysfunction.
I offer complete thyroid profile testing which is particularly useful if you have been told everything is fine but you still have some of the above symptoms. If you think that you might have weight gain and an under active thyroid aka hypothyroidism, get in touch and I can help you find out!
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