My daughter is 28. She has been recently diagnosed with her thyroid not producing enough. She is taking Thyroid meds. She is also now considered pre diabetic and is taking Metformin and to top it off has also been told she has Polysystic Ovary issues. Her body has been gaining weight for the last year. She eats very clean, works out 5 or 6 days a week and has gained almost 40 lbs in the last year. She is 5 9 and very athletic, but the weight gain in driving her crazy. In FEB of 2013 she weighed about 135lbs, but now is almost 170. Is there something else she should be looking at? I have read these are all related at times, but she is lost on what to do next.
Thu, 10 Mar 2016
General & Family Physician, Dr. Pinak De's Response
Hi, Thanks for writing to HCM.
You have said very correctly these are all interconnected. Having said that let me make it bit more clearer. PCOS & Overweight is associated with Insulin Resistance which in turn leads to weight gain as well as predisposes to prediabetes/Diabetes. Again reduced thyroid functioning also causes weight gain. Now regarding her treatment it very appropriate to start her on metformin and thyroid hormone. As you have also said that it has all been diagnosed very recently and so is the treatment so it might take a while to reflect in results. Let her continue exercise moderate intensity 45-60mins daily, as tolerated without gap of more than 2days in a row. Regarding diet add more fibre to food, fresh fruits, quiting addictions, if any will help her a lot. The main target would be to reduce the weight. But the most important thing is that weight reduction will need a lot of determination and I am sure you will provide her with adequate support and encouragement. This will surely make a difference.
Hope this helped. Do let us know Dr. Pinak
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What Causes Increase In Weight?
Hi, Thanks for writing to HCM. You have said very correctly these are all interconnected. Having said that let me make it bit more clearer. PCOS & Overweight is associated with Insulin Resistance which in turn leads to weight gain as well as predisposes to prediabetes/Diabetes. Again reduced thyroid functioning also causes weight gain. Now regarding her treatment it very appropriate to start her on metformin and thyroid hormone. As you have also said that it has all been diagnosed very recently and so is the treatment so it might take a while to reflect in results. Let her continue exercise moderate intensity 45-60mins daily, as tolerated without gap of more than 2days in a row. Regarding diet add more fibre to food, fresh fruits, quiting addictions, if any will help her a lot. The main target would be to reduce the weight. But the most important thing is that weight reduction will need a lot of determination and I am sure you will provide her with adequate support and encouragement. This will surely make a difference. Hope this helped. Do let us know Dr. Pinak