Weight gain and Thyroid in women: The coexisting confounders

Hypothyroidism and obesity are common coexisting illnesses which have an impact on each other. Data from India suggests that about a third of individuals with obesity have overt hypothyroidism and about one-tenth have subclinical hypothyroidism. Multiple mechanisms have described how both thyroid and obesity could have a significant impact on each other. A moderately elevated TSH, elevated T3 and a lower T4 is classically described thyroid dysfunction in patients with obesity. This article will detail the epidemiology, pathogenesis and the clinical implications of weight gain and thyroid dysfunction with a special focus on women.