You can experience weight gain with Graves' disease - this is why
Most people associate Graves’ disease with weight loss. But it’s not unusual for someone with Graves’ to experience weight gain.
So why does this happen? There are 5 major reasons behind unwanted weight gain in Graves’ disease – let’s take a closer look at each.
5 Causes Of Weight Gain In Graves’ Disease
Surgery & radioactive therapy
This is probably the number one driver, and it’s also the irreversible cause of hypothyroidism in people with Graves’ disease.
Around 50% of people with Graves’ don’t respond to drug therapy. When this happens, you’ll be offered the options of thyroidectomy surgery and/or radioactive iodine therapy (RAI). The problem with these two options is that they cannot be undone, and in the majority of causes, they will cause the person to become hypothyroid.
A hypothyroid state means your body does not have the thyroid hormone it needs to maintain a healthy metabolism. As a result, you’ll start to put on weight.
Medication
The first line of intervention for those with Graves’ disease is typically anti-thyroid medications. Depending on where in the world you are located, you may be prescribed:
Carbimazole
Propylthiouracil
Methimazole
Because these drugs are designed to reduce the driver of Graves’ symptom – too much thyroid hormone – they will reduce the amount of circulating thyroid hormone in the body. But if your dosage isn’t quite right, it could put you into a state of hypothyroidism. And as we just discussed, this adds up to weight gain.
Fluid retention
It’s important to note that not all weight gain in Graves’ is body fat! One potential side effect of Graves’ disease is fluid retention. This can occur due to cardiac involvement such as pulmonary hypertension and eventual heart failure.
If your Graves’ is not well controlled and you notice signs of fluid retention, it’s best to seek your specialist’s advice immediately. The earlier you rule out or treat any kind of cardiac issue caused by Graves’, the better!
Increased appetite
As your metabolism is in overdrive with this condition, a common side effect is increased appetite. This can help to maintain your body weight in most cases. But if you’re eating large amounts of calorie-dense foods, you can still gain weight even if your thyroid levels are under control.
Hormonal changes
We know that thyroid hormones can influence countless other hormones in the body. This includes hormones that control your appetite, satiety and fat storage. If these are thrown off balance, it can add up to weight gain.
For example, hyperthyroidism is linked to the development of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance encourages your body to store more energy as fat, rather than utilising it in your cells and muscles. This can lead to weight gain.
don’t let your graves’ disease get you down!
If you’re suffering from symptoms of Graves’ disease and feeling out of control, you’re not alone. It can take time to learn what is driving the condition and get an understanding of what your body is communicating to you.
But that doesn’t mean you need to suffer the symptoms forever. Your daily habits can make a massive difference – all you need to do is learn about your condition and empower yourself.