Skip to content
By aunty
04 February 2008 10:42
What sort of diet would work for me as I suffer from an under active thyroid? I've tried to lose weight without much success.
By Yours Health Expert
Sarah Wilson of the Princess Grace Hospital offers advice on losing weight if you suffer an under active thyroid.
An under active thyroid (hypothyroidism) occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones.
The slowing of your body’s metabolic rate leads to symptoms such as weight gain, tiredness, depression, heavy periods, dry hair and skin and constipation.
Once diagnosed treatment is straightforward and most people will need to take medication (thyroxine) for life. It can take some time to get the dose right but once hormone levels are normal there will no longer be any reason why you can not lose weight.
Aim for slow steady weight loss of 1-2 lbs a week as crash dieting decreases your muscle mass making your metabolism even slower.Increase daily activity levels to build muscle mass and burn caloriesKeep the fat, sugar and salt content of your diet low and watch portion sizes!Include slow release carbohydrate foods e.g. oats, granary bread, basmati rice at each meal to help stabilise your blood sugar levelsHave 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day – there is no need to avoid so called goitrogenic foods such as cooked cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts in moderate amounts.Ensure 2 serves of protein foods a day (lean meat/fish/poultry/pulses/tofu) to provide a source of iron and other minerals essential for good healthAvoid excessive consumption of kelp or supplements containing iodineNever change your medication in order to lose weight
Sarah Wilson is a Specialist Dietitician at The Princess Grace Hospital, one of London's leading providers of healthcare services to the private sector and provides comprehensive facilities for inpatient and outpatient care.
For further information visit http://www.theprincessgracehospital.com/
Add your comment
Sign in You must be signed in to submit a comment.
What diet is best for an under-active thyroid?
Your comment
By submitting your comment, you agree to adhere to Yours.co.uk Terms and Conditions
Cancel
Subscribe to comments
You must be logged in to subscribe to a topic
Login or register now
pamelarose says
LADIES DONT GET DEPRESSED I FIND SWIMMING TWICE A WEEK HELPS ME WITH MY UNDER ACTIVE TYHROID.I HAVE A BANANA /ORANGE ETC WHEN FEELING PECKISH AND BRISK WALKING HELPS IVE LOST A FEW POUNDS SINCE RETIREMENT 2YRS AGO. EVERY LITTLE HELPS,AND WITH SWIMMING I HAVE MADE SO MANY FRIENDS AND WE GO OUT ON TRIPS IT CERTAINLY PERKS YOU UP. PAM MC
LADIES DONT GET DEPRESSED I FIND SWIMMING TWICE A WEEK HELPS ME WITH MY UNDER ACTIVE TYHROID.I HAVE A BANANA /ORANGE ETC WHEN FEELING PECKISH
AND BRISK WALKING HELPS IVE LOST A FEW POUNDS SINCE RETIREMENT 2YRS AGO.
EVERY LITTLE HELPS,AND WITH SWIMMING I HAVE MADE SO MANY FRIENDS AND WE GO
OUT ON TRIPS IT CERTAINLY PERKS YOU UP.
PAM MC
24 February 2010 15:37
Triggers says
I also suffer with under active thyroid and at the moment I am taking medication. I have put on 2 stones and hate it. I have tried every diet and nothing is happening. I am starting to hate myself, as I have got no confidence at all. I was once a happy woman I now stay home and I do not want to go out as I get embarassed. Please help me with a diet urgently......... Kind regards Lorna
I also suffer with under active thyroid and at the moment I am taking medication. I have put on 2 stones and hate it. I have tried every diet and nothing is happening. I am starting to hate myself, as I have got no confidence at all. I was once a happy woman I now stay home and I do not want to go out as I get embarassed.
Please help me with a diet urgently.........
Kind regards Lorna
20 November 2009 14:28
angielou says
I have an underactive thyroid which I've had for over 25 years, it is only recently the past two years that I have put on so much weight, yet my doctor assures me that my test results are fine. On top of this I'm so very tired and end up going to bed at 9.15pm at night (which is no life). I've tried every diet under the sun including Weight Watchers, and I've even cut down my calorie intake to less than a small child would eat and that didn't work either. I drink lots of water during the day as I don't drink tea or coffee. I know the type of food I should eat and the portion sizes I've tried everything I've been advised to do but nothing works. My doctor asked me if I was depressed, of course I'm depressed I've put on loads of weight and can't get it off! Her reason being that I'm depressed so have put on weight, no - it's the other way around, I've put on weight so I'm depressed. It's affecting me so much now that I won't go out socially and have no confidence in myself anymore. The change in me is very obvious, I've gone from a very outgoing happy person to a sad recluse. Nothing I try works, my doctor is fed up me going over the same thing but says there's nothing more she can do. So it looks like my social life is over and I'm doomed to spend the rest of my life being miserable. Oh, and I've tried the exercise part too, going for hard long walks for over 9 miles, still nothing! I get so annoyed when I get told how to eat the right kind of food and portion sizes like I've not already tried that - I have - it didn't work!!! Anyone got any ideas before I put a gun to my head!
I have an underactive thyroid which I've had for over 25 years, it is only recently the past two years that I have put on so much weight, yet my doctor assures me that my test results are fine. On top of this I'm so very tired and end up going to bed at 9.15pm at night (which is no life). I've tried every diet under the sun including Weight Watchers, and I've even cut down my calorie intake to less than a small child would eat and that didn't work either. I drink lots of water during the day as I don't drink tea or coffee. I know the type of food I should eat and the portion sizes I've tried everything I've been advised to do but nothing works. My doctor asked me if I was depressed, of course I'm depressed I've put on loads of weight and can't get it off! Her reason being that I'm depressed so have put on weight, no - it's the other way around, I've put on weight so I'm depressed. It's affecting me so much now that I won't go out socially and have no confidence in myself anymore. The change in me is very obvious, I've gone from a very outgoing happy person to a sad recluse. Nothing I try works, my doctor is fed up me going over the same thing but says there's nothing more she can do. So it looks like my social life is over and I'm doomed to spend the rest of my life being miserable. Oh, and I've tried the exercise part too, going for hard long walks for over 9 miles, still nothing!
I get so annoyed when I get told how to eat the right kind of food and portion sizes like I've not already tried that - I have - it didn't work!!!
Anyone got any ideas before I put a gun to my head!
11 November 2009 14:01
janewebb says
I found that a higher protein diet is better than a high carbohydrate one, but I think the higher protein one worked better because of a very low sugar intake
26 June 2009 23:30
lizbaker says
My daughter who suffers from under active thyroid, and putting on a lot of weight, at the moment they have not got her medication right. After reading your comments I am hoping they will get it right, and she will be back on track. Mrs.E.Baker
My daughter who suffers from under active thyroid, and putting on a lot of weight, at the moment they
have not got her medication right. After reading your comments I am hoping they will get it right, and
she will be back on track. Mrs.E.Baker
13 March 2009 15:06
