link b/w anorexia & thyroid problem??

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2004
link b/w anorexia & thyroid problem??
2
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 1:31pm
Hi,

I am worried about a friend of mine. She lost a lot of weight throughout last school year and my roomates and I suspected she was anorexic b/c she ate pretty much only raw veggies and salads and was very secretive about going to the gym and seemed sheepish when people commented on her weight loss (even when she still looked good.) I'd estimate that she went from 150 lbs. to 90-100 lbs. in about 8 months. Her and her mom always denied that she had any kind of eating disorder and got mad that my roomates and I even suggested it. Now my friend is saying that she has a severely overactive thyroid which has accounted for the weight loss and other health problems she has incurred since losing the weight. She has all the symptoms of a thyroid condition but I still am worried she has an eating problem. She says that her thyroid problem is making it impossible to gain weight.

My question is...does anyone know if there is a link between anorexia and overactive thyroid conditions? Can anorexia cause a thyroid to become overactive?

Thanks for your help!!

Lauren

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 4:44pm
Hi Lauren - I would have to check that for you because I don't know offhand but I can tell you - and so will the many hyperthyroid people here - that that kind of weight loss is one of the major symptoms of hyperthyroidism. It's very possible that your friend lost so much weight becuase of her low calorie diet. Eating nothing but salad and veggies at your age is sure to bring about drastic weight loss. And it is very hard to gain weight with hyperthyroidism. So your friend's reasons all sound pretty logical to me. But if you're worried about her, that might be for good reason, too! I'll check this out for you and post back later ok? Cathy :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 4:47pm
Hi Lauren,

you seem like a very good, concerned friend.

In my honest opinion, I do not believe there is any link between anorexia and hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid). If I'm incorrect, someone will chime in.

Complications from anorexia and side effects of hyperthyroid are similar. In my opinion, your friend is using an excuse of a severely "overactive thyroid" to mask her eating disorder. If she were being medicated for this "thyroid" condition, she would gain weight. This I know for sure!!! I copied the signs of anorexia from the ivillage eating disorder board. As I noted before, many of these are symptoms of an overactive thyroid. Also, her being "mad" and on the defensive indicates she's hiding something.

Again, you seem like a concerned friend and I hope your friend will soon be able to recognize that.

I couldn't copy a link to the eating disorder board but I suggest you visit there to get more accurate information.

Good luck with this.

ANOREXIA SIGNS:

Drastic weight loss (more that 15% normal body weight)

Feeling "fat" even when visibly too thin

Hiding food to avoid eating it

Amenorrhea

Fatigue

Withdrawal from society

Feelings of nervousness or discomfort around food

Constantly counting every calorie

Irritability

Mood swings

Pale skin

Weakness

Obsession with recipes and food

Insomnia

Obsessed with weighing oneself

Only eating "safe" foods

Loss of sexual desire

Use of laxatives, diuretics and/or diet pills

Vomiting

Fainting spells

Unusal eating habits

Making excuses not to eat

Dehydration

Excessive exercise

Feeling cold all the time

Cold hands and feet

Bloating

Headaches and dizziness

Hairloss

Constipation

Bloating

Lanugo (fine downy hair)

Anemia

Depression

Insomnia

Electrolyte imbalance