June 2002 -- The link between thyroid disease and weight problems is well-known to patients, but less understood by physicians. Among the most frequently asked questions, patients typically are looking for detailed answers to the following important questions:

• If I’m overweight, does that mean that I have a thyroid problem?
• I have Graves’ disease and/or hyperthyroidism, but I am gaining weight. Aren’t I supposed to be losing weight?
• After treatment for Graves’ disease or hyperthyroidism, will I definitely gain weight?
• Is everyone who is hypothyroid also overweight?
• Do doctors believe that an underactive thyroid causes weight gain?
• How much weight does hypothyroidism typically cause you to gain?
• If I gained weight, and then was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, now that I am being treated with thyroid drugs, will I automatically lose the weight that I gained and get back to normal, weight-wise?
• Why does it seem harder for people with thyroid or autoimmune conditions to lose weight?
• Is there a particular diet that works better for thyroid patients?
• What about exercise? Do I need to exercise in order to lose weight with a thyroid condition?
• Why do I see such slow results with any diet?
• What if nothing at all is working?