loss or gain in weight can be due to a number of reasons like inheritance, eating habits, not working out proportionaly to the amount of food consumed and thyroid problem…
By Dr. Shafaq Alvi
Women always dread gaining weight or even losing too much - but don’t we all go through weight fluctuations? Every woman desires a proportionate figure. It’s a common sight - a couple of women sitting together discussing among other personal issues, their weight problems as well.
One aspect that should be kept in mind, which is not usually thought about, is that many factors can lead to an increase in weight - not just over eating. Reasons like inheritance, unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercises, thyroid problem etc. contribute to weight related problems.
Thyroid is an endocrine gland in the body involved in multiple body functions starting from heat regulation to metabolism etc. Endocrine problems are such in our body that they manifest themselves slowly and they are treated slowly as well. It’s vital to remember that thyroid problems have a propensity to occur in women so they are the ones more in danger of experiencing a change in their weight due to thyroids.
Thyroid problem manifests itself in the most diverse of ways; it brings about changes in the human body from head to toe. As far as gaining weight is concerned, it occurs when the thyroid is functioning less (hypo functioning). It sometimes happens with women who lose a lot of blood during delivery or at times during pregnancy. Likewise, when the thyroid is functioning more than normal (hyper functioning) then also many problems arise like menstrual problems, blood pressure alteration, heat intolerance, anxiety, restlessness, palpitation and no gain of weight despite of a lot of effort for it.
Unfortunately the patients or their attendants hardly ever notice thyroid irregularities during the primary stages of occurrence. A woman suffering from hypo functioning thinks her weight gain is due to eating a lot. Mostly, the increase in weight is seen in the upper extremities and she keeps on trying to lose weight by eating less but nothing brings about the required effect as the root cause happens to be her thyroid gland.
Thyroid problems are easy to treat. If you feel that the increase or decrease in your weight is without any obvious reasons, you must immediately consult a doctor. Developing a goiter (in the form of massive swelling in the neck) or bulging eyes or stricken face are the extreme repercussions of one’s thyroid gland problem.
As it is commonly advertised through media, using iodized salt can save us from developing thyroid irregularities. Developing walking as our habit plus eating seafood, specially fish also helps.
Most of us must have noticed that when any member of the family gets sick, mothers are the first ones to point it out and first ones to seek a doctor’s advice for it but when they themselves fall sick; they hardly care. This attitude needs to change. Women must remain conscious of the changes in their bodies. They must make others realise that they need care and attention as well. Health is not something that can be taken for granted - if it’s lost once it can’t be easily compensated.