With the increase in the number of overweight and obese children in America, many parents are becoming concerned that their child may need a thyroid test to rule out hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, as the cause of their obesity. Thyroid disease, when it's present, can cause weight fluctuation which leads parents to believe it may be the cause of their child's weight gain. Is thyroid testing children who are obese necessary?
In children, hypothyroidism appears to have only minor effects on weight gain and even when the child is treated with the appropriate medications to normalize thyroid function, substantial weight loss generally doesn't occur. For this reason, an underactive thyroid is unlikely to be the cause of significant weight gain in a child. It's far more likely that a high calorie diet and lack of exercise is the major problem in children who have put on substantial weight.
Although thyroid testing children should not be the standard for children who are overweight, there are situations where you may want to have your child's thyroid function evaluated. If your child is complaining of other symptoms consistent with underactive thyroid function, thyroid testing would be appropriate. These include symptoms of decreased appetite, sluggishness and fatigue, depression and listlessness, dry skin, and increased susceptibility to cold. When these symptoms occur in conjunction with weight gain and obesity, the chance of an underactive thyroid being the culprit goes up. Other symptoms associated with an underactive thyroid include constipation, hair loss, and growth delays.
Thyroid testing children with the symptoms previously mentioned is important since an underactive thyroid can result in delays in growth and development if not treated promptly. It can also result in problems with intellectual functioning and the ability to function in school. Generally, the older a child is when he manifests hypothyroidism, the less the risk of long term health problems.
How is thyroid testing children carried out? A simple blood test that looks at levels of thyroid hormone and its precursors is sufficient to establish the diagnosis. If a thyroid nodule is found in the neck, a thyroid ultrasound may be an additional recommended test.
If thyroid testing does show an underactive thyroid, treatment with supplemental thyroid hormone is usually sufficient to return your child to his healthy state.
Although most cases of childhood weight gain won't be due to thyroid disease, it's important to keep in mind these additional symptoms that may suggest that thyroid testing your child is necessary.
