title: LACK OF AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BMI AND TSH IN TREATED HYPOTHYROID PATIENTS AND EUTHYROID CONTROLS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The standard treatment for primary hypothyroidism is replacement with levothyroxine to achieve a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level within the normal range, (0.45-4.5 mIU/L), which is known to prevent complications including weight gain. While the normal TSH range includes the 95% confidence intervals, it is not known if there is an association between weight and TSH within this interval in treated hypothyroid patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients treated within the Cooper Health System from January 1 to August 31, 2014. A sample of 245 treated hypothyroid patients and 162 euthyroid controls were studied. Data collected included age, sex, race/ethnicity, height, weight, levothyroxine dose, and diabetes and smoking history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypothyroid and control groups were similar in height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and the number of patients with diabetes. There were more females, Caucasians, and nonsmokers in the hypothyroid group. The average TSH was slightly higher in the treated hypothyroid patients versus nonhypothyroid controls (median 1.87 vs. 1.55, P<.01). There was no significant relationship between TSH and BMI in the treated hypothyroid patients or the euthyroid controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since no significant relationship was found between BMI and TSH in treated hypothyroidism, there may be no weight reduction benefit gained by adjusting TSH to the lower end of normal range. Patients should be counseled that properly treated hypothyroidism is unlikely to contribute to weight gain. Other treatments such as nutrition and exercise counseling should be offered instead.
authors.forename: Bert M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Bieler
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaughan
authors.forename: Maliha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Girish
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Krystal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Farah H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests / Q000592:standards; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin