[Latent thyroid diseases in obesity]

We have investigated 2672 obese subjects (2324 females and 348 males); of these, the following two groups were considered: obese subjects with or without thyroid disease. Subjects were stratified according to age, sex, and BMI. The prevalence of thyroid disease was correlated to age, sex and BMI increased body weight. Our data showed that 22% of patients affected by essential obesity and not resident in area of iodine deficiency is affected by thyroid diseases which are not diagnosed (18%). In the obese subjects, presence of goiter is more frequent than in the normal weight subjects and affects mainly adult males. Chronic thyroiditis is typical of females (9:1 female:male ratio) with no difference between normo and overweight subjects. Prevalence of single nodule in the obese is similar to the normal weight subjects, it is more frequent in adults and in subjects with medium size obesity. However, occurrence of carcinoma (8%) in single nodules appears higher in the overweight (5-6%) as compared to the normal weight subjects.