Dr. Camille Nghiem-Phu, a naturopathic doctor who runs Path to Wellness, helps shed some light on conditions that can cause people to pack on extra pounds. If you suspect any of the situations listed below apply to you, contact your health-care practitioner.
1. Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid
Hypothyroidism is a condition of underactive thyroid function, says Dr. Nghiem-Phu. This condition is very common among women today due to the many demands of daily life, she explains. When suffering from an underactive thyroid, "women feel exhausted, stressed out, may have night sweats and/or feel intolerant to cold, and have difficulty managing their weight," Dr. Nghiem-Phu says. The thyroid gland is responsible for metabolism, body temperature, perspiration and part of your daily energy, so having a low-functioning thyroid will slow down your metabolism, making it harder to lose weight.
Unfortunately, the thyroid gland is highly influenced by stress, so the more emotional, physical and mental demand we put on our bodies, the more harm we create on our thyroid gland over time. "It's important to have your GP check your thyroid panel through your blood work, but in my clinical practice I see many men and women who suffer from subclinical hypothyroidism where the blood values are normal or on the lower side of normal, yet the patient is obviously hypothyroid," she says.
Bottom line: Be persistent in seeking help if you have hypothyroidism symptoms you just can't shake.
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