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What Causes Excessive Weight Gain Even After Eating Healthy Food In Small Portions?

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Posted on Tue, 19 May 2015
Question: Hi. My 20 year old daughter has had a weight issue for the past 2 years. She is very active and eats extremely healthy and small portions. But gains weight non the less. I took her to neuticionist to endocrinologist and have no answers. One dr put her on cytomel 5 mg small dose for low t3 t4. But he was the only one who thought she is low. A month later nothing has changed. She is still gaining weight. What should I check for next? I'm all out of ideas.
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Answered by Kathy Shattler (31 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You sound very frustrated

Detailed Answer:
I am sorry your daughter has had to fight this wt. issue. You say she is very active, but is she on a regular planned exercise routine? I would like to see her working our at 70 % XXXXXXX Heart rate which is 220-20=200 x .7=140 target heart rate. She is to warm up and gradually work up to 140 and try to keep it at 140 for 20 minutes then gradually cool down. I don't care which exercise she chooses as long as it is for 150 minutes total for a week. It is a regular exercise routine she must start.

Have her look up high glycemic foods. She is to try to stay away from most of those.

She is to use iodized salt for getting enough iodine followed by a little selenium -even a few brazil nuts. The thyroid cannot work properly unless it has selenium and iodine together repleted.

Your daughter sounds like she has genetic obesity. Lets try to raise her metabolism with green tea. Drink 6 oz. of strong green tea x 3 per day to increase metabolism.

You say she eats healthy and in small portions. Does she snack? Eat too late at night? She saw a dietitian and a endocrinologist. She has seen the very people I would have referred her to. Also, the DR was the only one who thought she was low? Who else was suppose to determine this? The TSH should be around 2.5 and even when TSH looks normal the hormones may not be working correctly in the body, therefore my concern for selenium and iodine. Also, go back on the medication the doctor prescribed as I don't know who is saying she doesn't need it as the dr. would not write a rX unless he saw the need to.

I would have her count calories, stay on 1200 preferably 6 small meals/day and to try to limit high glycemic starchy foods. Drink 8 glasses of pure water. I hope i have given some direction. Please feel free to write back if you need more clarifications. One more thing, does she drink alcohol? Thanks, XXXXXXX Shattler,MS,RDN
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Answered by
Kathy
Kathy Shattler

Dietitian & Nutritionist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 901 Questions

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What Causes Excessive Weight Gain Even After Eating Healthy Food In Small Portions?

Brief Answer: You sound very frustrated Detailed Answer: I am sorry your daughter has had to fight this wt. issue. You say she is very active, but is she on a regular planned exercise routine? I would like to see her working our at 70 % XXXXXXX Heart rate which is 220-20=200 x .7=140 target heart rate. She is to warm up and gradually work up to 140 and try to keep it at 140 for 20 minutes then gradually cool down. I don't care which exercise she chooses as long as it is for 150 minutes total for a week. It is a regular exercise routine she must start. Have her look up high glycemic foods. She is to try to stay away from most of those. She is to use iodized salt for getting enough iodine followed by a little selenium -even a few brazil nuts. The thyroid cannot work properly unless it has selenium and iodine together repleted. Your daughter sounds like she has genetic obesity. Lets try to raise her metabolism with green tea. Drink 6 oz. of strong green tea x 3 per day to increase metabolism. You say she eats healthy and in small portions. Does she snack? Eat too late at night? She saw a dietitian and a endocrinologist. She has seen the very people I would have referred her to. Also, the DR was the only one who thought she was low? Who else was suppose to determine this? The TSH should be around 2.5 and even when TSH looks normal the hormones may not be working correctly in the body, therefore my concern for selenium and iodine. Also, go back on the medication the doctor prescribed as I don't know who is saying she doesn't need it as the dr. would not write a rX unless he saw the need to. I would have her count calories, stay on 1200 preferably 6 small meals/day and to try to limit high glycemic starchy foods. Drink 8 glasses of pure water. I hope i have given some direction. Please feel free to write back if you need more clarifications. One more thing, does she drink alcohol? Thanks, XXXXXXX Shattler,MS,RDN