There has been enough evidence to indicate that obesity has a stronger association with blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) accepted a recent study for publication where researchers reveal how child obesity can alter the functions and structure of thyroid.
The relationship between obesity and thyroid has been quite controversial especially when researchers tried analyzing the correlation of obesity with deficient thyroid function. In the past there have been research analysis that confirm that thyroid disorder may lead to obesity and in this recent study, the revelation is that in some case obesity may be the cause for thyroid disorder.
According to Giorgio Radetti, who is the M.D. of the Regional Hospital of Bolzano, Italy, there is a possibility that excess fat has the capacity to influence modification of the thyroid tissue. Giorgio Radetti, who is also the lead author of this study, says “Our study shows that alterations in thyroid function and structure are common in obese children and we may have uncovered the link” and “We found an association between body mass index and thyroid hormone levels which suggests that fat excess may have a role in thyroid tissue modification."
This study examined 186 children who were obese or overweight for about 3 years. The thyroid hormones levels of these participants were measured along with thyroid antibodies. Additional a thyroid ultrasound was also performed on these subjects.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid disease where the T-cells attack the cells of the thyroid and patients are diagnosed of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis if they test results confirm the presence of thyroid antibodies. Surprisingly, out of 186 participants, 73 did not show the present of these antibodies but their ultrasound pattern was suggesting the possibility of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
While Dr. Radetti agrees that the results of ultrasound were a bit mysterious, he said, “However, the findings do suggest the existence of a low-grade inflammation state, which has been known to characterize obesity."
According to Dr. Radetti, more studies need to be carried out to analyze if thyroid abnormalities can lead to chronic thyroid disease in adulthood.