If you're doing everything "right" and can't seem to lose weight, you may have a hidden health condi...

1. 4 surprising reasons women can't lose weight
If you're doing everything "right" and can't seem to lose weight, you may have a hidden health
condition.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
An underactive thyroid can disrupt metabolism and other aspects of health
Eating a "trouble food" can lead to bloating and water-weight gain
Weight gain can be an unwelcome side effect of some drugs
(Health.com) -- Most of us already know that eating less and moving more are the keys to dropping
extra pounds. But if you're already doing everything "right" and can't seem to lose weight -- or are
even gaining it -- you may have a hidden health condition that's sabotaging your efforts. And the
symptoms may be so subtle that even your doctor can miss them. Here, some possible weight-loss
blockers -- and how to get the help you need.
A Sluggish Thyroid
Your thyroid gland makes hormones that regulate the way your body uses energy. An underactive
thyroid (hypothyroidism) disrupts your metabolism, as well as many other aspects of your health.
Some estimate that as many as 10 percent of adults have hypothyroidism, which is more common in
women and is most often diagnosed in the 40s and 50s.
Could this be you? Besides weight gain or an inability to lose weight, you may notice fatigue, hair
loss, dry skin, joint pain and muscle weakness, heavy periods, increased sensitivity to cold, even
depression. Many people with low-grade hypothyroidism just feel "off," with no obvious signs of
being truly sick.
How to get tested: Ask your internist to run a TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) screening. In
general, the higher your TSH level, the slower your thyroid is. "While traditional 'normal' values are
between .45 and 4.5, if your level is above 2, you might still struggle to lose weight," explains Dr.
Jamie Kane, M.D., medical director of Park Avenue Medical Weight and Wellness in New York City.
Your doctor may also want to check your levels of T-3 and T-4, the two main thyroid hormones. But
hypothyroidism isn't always a straight numbers game; more and more doctors are now treating the
symptoms, not just the blood-test results. "If a patient isn't feeling well, it's often because her
thyroid isn't functioning as well as it should for her body," says Dr. Erika Schwartz, M.D., an
internist in New York City.
How it's treated: Your doc will usually start by prescribing a low-dose T-4 thyroid hormone like
Synthroid. If your symptoms don't improve, discuss upping your dosage or switching to a
combination of T-3 and T-4.

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Out-of-Whack Hormones
As many as 1 in 10 women of childbearing age have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition
in which a woman's ovaries produce an excess of male hormones. In addition to causing ovulation
problems and infertility, PCOS may go hand-in-hand with insulin resistance, a glitch in the way your
body processes blood sugar, which is often associated with excess fat storage, especially around the
waist. Left untreated, insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Could this be you? You may have irregular periods, excess facial and body hair, acne, some male
pattern balding, and trouble getting pregnant, along with unexplained weight gain (though not
everyone with PCOS has weight issues).
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How to get tested: Your gynecologist or internist can test your levels of sex hormones for an
imbalance of testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen, says Dr. David Katz, M.D., director of the
Yale Prevention Research Center. She may then test your blood sugar and insulin levels or perform
an ultrasound to check for cysts on your ovaries.
How it's treated: Lifestyle changes are usually the Cold Hands and Feet Thyroid first step. If you're
already eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, you may have to kick it up another notch to
see results. If you have insulin resistance, Katz says, you'll also want to cut out refined carbs and
added sugars. If you've made these changes and still don't notice a difference, your doc may
prescribe a drug called metformin, which is used to treat insulin resistance as well as assist with
ovulation (if you're trying to get pregnant).
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Trouble-Making Foods
Most people know if they're allergic to certain foods like nuts or shellfish, but many aren't aware of
food intolerances. While a true food allergy results when your immune system mistakenly identifies a

3. food as harmful and mounts an immediate response, food intolerances can have a variety of causes,
including lack of a certain digestive enzyme (as with lactose intolerance) or sensitivity to food
additives, and tend to manifest over time, says Dr. Elizabeth W. Boham, M.D., R.D., a family
practitioner at The UltraWellness Center in Lenox, Massachusetts. Eating a "trouble food" -- the
most common being dairy, gluten, eggs, soy, corn and nuts -- can lead to bloating and water-weight
gain, among other symptoms. Experts estimate that food intolerances affect as many as 1 in 10
people.
Could this be you? You may regularly have bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation -- as well as
seemingly unrelated symptoms like mild asthma, eczema, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and
fatigue.
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How to get tested: An internist or gastroenterologist can help you diagnose the problem, but you can
begin to figure it out for yourself through an elimination diet. Boham suggests that you start by
removing gluten and dairy (these are the biggest culprits) from your diet for two to three weeks. If
you don't notice a difference, also eliminate eggs, corn, soy, and nuts, and consider nixing additives
such as food coloring and preservatives. After a few weeks, slowly reintroduce the possible culprits,
one at a time, noting any reactions.
How it's treated: If the reaction is severe, you'll need to cut the offending food from your diet. For
mild reactions, try a daily probiotic supplement, which restores the good bacteria in your gut
necessary for digestion and can help prevent bloating and water weight gain. Boham recommends
one with at least 10 billion live bacteria per pill.
Pills That Pack on Pounds
Weight gain can be an unwelcome side effect of some drugs, including antidepressants, steroids,
and, more rarely, birth-control pills (due to a temporary increase in water retention).
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4. Could this be you? You may notice weight gain within a few weeks of starting a new medication,
though it could take several months before you see any effects, Kane says.
How to get tested: No special test is needed; you know if you're gaining weight.
How it's treated: Talk to your doctor, who may be able to prescribe an alternative. In the case of
anti-depressants, bupropion has been shown to cause less weight gain and possibly even lead to
weight loss. With birth control pills, switching to a version with a lower dose of hormones might
minimize weight gain. But remember, treating the condition you're taking the drug for is your
biggest priority, so you should never go off any meds on your own.
Copyright Health Magazine 2011