The Thyroid and Metabolism
Your thyroid produces T3 and T4, two hormones that control how quickly your body uses energy and oxygen, which determines how fast your body burns calories. Hypothyroidism — in which your thyroid produces low or no thyroid hormones — causes your metabolism to slow down, potentially leading to weight gain, according to Cleveland Clinic.
After your thyroid shuts down or is removed, you may gain weight as you try to find the correct dosage of thyroid hormone replacement medication. You can help increase your metabolism by burning more calories through physical activity.
That said, if you don’t get enough calories, you could slow your metabolism down further, notes Cleveland Clinic. Your body has a built-in survival mechanism that slows metabolism to conserve energy when you don’t consume enough calories.
