If a person has a goiter will he lose or gain weight? and why?

Goiter refers to any visible enlargement of the thyroid gland.


The thyroid gland sits astride the trachea (windpipe) and is shaped like a butterfly. It makes thyroxin, a hormone that regulates the metabolic activity of the body, rather like the gas pedal on a car. Too much thyroxin INCREASES THE METABOLISM- thus CAUSING WEIGHT LOSS; , temperature elevation, nervousness, and irritability.

The opposite, too little thyroxin slows the metabolism down, deepens the voice, causes weight gain and water retention, and retards growth and mental development in children. Both conditions also alter hair and skin growth, bowel function, and menstrual flow

I think he it may vary from person to person. but my intsructor in anatomy said that the thyroid gland that is in there maybe responsible for obesity..

My 21 year old daughter, who has over the past two years has gone from 120 pounds to 220 pounds was just diagonosed with Hashimotos disease, she was checked by a doctor & was informed her goiter was enlarged, following her visit she was urged to have her blood checked, which of course came back with the results stating the obvious, she does have Hashimotos disease, its a disease that seems to run in familys, its very treatable & yes it can & does cause weight gain, not weight lose, so I recomend if you or someone who is close to you may think they have a enlarged goiter, go & get your blood tested.

lose - if it's hyperthyroidism
gain - if it's hypothyroidism

consult an endocrinologist, he might advice you to undergo some tests like T3, T4, TSH (thyroid function tests)

Good luck!

both if it affect the thyroid gland

A goiter can be a sign of either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism can cause weight loss or gain. Hyperthyroidism can also cause weight loss or gain.

Those who say that hypothyroidism=weight gain and hyperthyroidism=weight loss are only repeating stereotypes.