Impact Of Weight Gain And Weight Loss On The Volume And Function Of The Thyroid Gland In Obese Women

Objective:Women who are obese and those who are not may have a different thyroid volume and function. It is unknown whether weight loss has an effect on the thyroid gland's volume and function in obese individuals.Methodology:The study enrolled 98 premenopausal euthyroid obese women (BMI = 30 kg/m2) and 31 non-obese women (BMI 25 kg/m2) (mean age 386 129 years). Each participant's weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and fat mass were calculated. Thyroid function testing and thyroid ultrasonography were performed at baseline and six months after initiating treatment for obesity. Subgroups of people attempting to lose weight were studied.Results:Obese women had larger thyroid volumes (P = 0021) and higher TSH concentrations (P = 0047), but lower free T3 and free T4 concentrations (P = 0001 and P = 0045, respectively. The relationship between thyroid volume and body weight (r = 0319, P = 002), body mass index (bmi) (r = 0504, P = 001), body fat percentage (r = 375, P = 001), body fat mass (r = 0309, P = 001), and waist circumference (r = 0386, P = 004) was all positive. Weight and fat mass were associated with increased TSH concentrations, with r = 0227 and P = 0042 indicating a positive correlation. Only obese women who lost more than 10% of their body weight following six months of obesity treatment experienced significant reductions in thyroid volume (P = 008) and TSH concentration (P = 006). Changes in body weight (r = 0341, P = 009) were positively correlated with changes in thyroid volume and body fat (r = 0406, P = 0013).Conclusion:Overweigh women may have a variable thyroid volume and function depending on their body mass and fat mass; weight loss of more than 10% may alter thyroid volume and function, but the effect is clinically insignificant.