Eating behavior and thyroid disease in female obese patients

It has been suggested that preexisting thyroid disease (TD) could be a risk factor for the development of eating disorders. The aim of this study was to compare eating attitudes and behavior in female obese patients with and without TD. Thyrotropin (TSH) was determined in 256 patients aged 44.9+/-14.7 years with body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m(2); eating attitudes and behavior were assessed with the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE). EDE Shape Concern score was significantly higher in patients with previous or current hypothyroidism (N=30) than in the rest of the sample. Among patients without known TD, no difference in eating attitudes was observed between patients with elevated TSH (N=24; 11%) and those with normal thyroid function. The prevalence of binge eating disorder (BED) in the total sample was 9.7%; no difference in prevalence was observed between patients with and without a history of hypothyroidism, and between those with and without previously unknown hypothyroidism. In conclusion, known hypothyroidism is associated with increased shape concern; this does not appear to be related to differences in current levels of thyroid hormones or related hormones.