Hashimoto’s and Weight Gain: Understanding the Connection

If you have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, you may be dealing with a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, digestive issues, and changes in your skin, hair, or overall well-being.

But does Hashimoto's cause weight gain?

Unfortunately, it can. In fact, weight gain is one of the most common symptoms associated with Hashimoto's disease and hypothyroidism.



In this article, we'll explain why Hashimoto's disease can cause weight gain, how much weight gain you can expect, and how to stop weight gain with Hashimoto's through practical diet and lifestyle changes.

Table of Contents

Yes, Hashimoto's disease can cause weight gain. Hashimoto's disease is a common condition wherein chronic inflammation can damage the thyroid and hinder its ability to produce hormones, resulting in hypothyroidism. Because the thyroid helps regulate metabolism, Hashimoto's disease can make it easier to gain weight and more difficult to lose it.

Hashimoto's affects more women than men and is known to result in weight gain for many people who have it.

If you're experiencing weight gain caused by Hashimoto's disease, HealthierU would like to help. Why needlessly endure symptoms that make your life difficult when you can use holistic nutrition to help manage your condition and support your overall well-being? Contact us to find out how we can help.

One of the main reasons Hashimoto's disease causes weight gain is that it affects the thyroid's ability to regulate metabolism. The thyroid also helps control appetite. When your thyroid is underactive and hormone levels are too low, your metabolism slows, and you burn less energy. Your body also becomes less likely to burn fat for fuel. All of this can lead to weight gain.



Another frequent issue that those with Hashimoto’s disease encounter is fatigue. This often leads to less physical activity, which in turn can also cause weight gain.

If you're wondering how to stop weight gain with Hashimoto's, there are several practical diet and lifestyle changes that may help. While results vary from person to person, the following strategies can support thyroid health and healthy weight management.

#1: Reduce Sugar in Your Diet

Not only can too much sugar contribute to weight gain, but it may also promote inflammation and the issues that come along with it. 

Simple carbohydrates, such as sugar, quickly break down into glucose, which your body uses as fuel. But when you eat more than you can burn, the excess glucose turns into fat.

If you have Hashimoto’s disease and are trying to lose weight, try to only have simple sugars as an occasional treat and stick more to complex carbohydrates, which your body metabolizes at a slower rate. 

#2: Follow a Hashimoto’s Disease Diet Plan

A holistic nutrition plan, like the one we can help create for you at HealthierU, is a great regimen to follow when you're dealing with Hashimoto's disease. This type of diet may help you:

• Avoid processed foods
• Reduce junk food; and
• Cut back on sugar

But you also want to try to stay away from any type of food that may contribute to inflammation. Here are our recommendations for what to avoid and what to eat on a Hashimoto's disease diet plan.



Remember that you should always discuss your diet with your doctor or another healthcare professional.

What To Avoid

Some people with Hashimoto's find that foods containing soy, gluten, or dairy may contribute to symptom flare-ups, so it may be helpful to limit or avoid them.

Other foods that you may want to eliminate from your diet include:

• Alcohol
• Alternative sweeteners such as sucralose and aspartame
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Dried fruits
• Nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers)
• Nuts and seeds
• Simple sugars

You may want to experiment to see how cutting out certain foods works best for you or eliminate one food group at a time to determine how your body responds. 

What To Eat

Some healthcare professionals recommend the AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) diet for people with Hashimoto's disease. This eating plan is similar to paleo but somewhat stricter.

The AIP diet focuses on foods that may help support overall health and reduce inflammation. These may include:

• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and cabbage
• Lean proteins like beef, eggs, pork, poultry, and seafood
• Non-dairy fermented foods (kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut)
• Some fruits, honey, and maple syrup
• Sulfur-rich vegetables such as garlic, leeks, and onions
• Green tea

#3: Exercise Regularly

Not only can regular exercise help you burn excess calories and lose weight, but it can also:

• Boost your energy levels
• Help fight depression
• Help reduce joint pain; and
• Increase your self-esteem

And you don’t have to endure an intense workout session every day to reap its benefits. Light activities, even just three times a week, can help with weight gain and other symptoms.

Over time, you may want to increase the frequency and intensity of your workouts as you can. Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.

#4: Get Enough Sleep

You know sleep is important, but you may not have known that it can affect your weight. Studies have shown that people who are sleep-deprived eat more calories, which leads to weight gain.

Lack of sleep can also raise your stress levels, and an increase in the stress hormone cortisol can supercharge your appetite.

To help yourself get more and better sleep, try these tips:

• Avoid screen time right before bed.
• Establish a soothing bedtime routine.
• Keep your room and bedding cool and wear light clothing.
• Consider taking supplements such as melatonin.

#5: Cut Back or Eliminate Alcohol 

Alcohol can not only add a lot of calories to your diet, but it can also negatively affect your sleep and slow down your systems, which are already sluggish due to Hashimoto’s disease.

Cutting back on how much you drink may improve your energy and sleep and eventually lead to weight loss.

#6: Look Into Environmental Factors

If you’re doing everything you can to address your Hashimoto’s disease and aren’t having success, you may need to consider that environmental factors could be at play.

For example, if you’re exposed to unhealthy levels of mold, it can impact your hormones and stress your adrenal glands. This can lead to higher cortisol levels and impact the thyroid hormones, all of which can cause you to gain weight.

Other environmental factors that may trigger Hashimoto’s disease include:

• Bisphenol-A (BPA)
• Insufficient sun exposure
• Irradiation
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Some synthetic pesticides

#7: Try Natural Remedies 

Since bloating contributes to Hashimoto's belly and can add to the discomfort associated with weight gain, some people have tried natural remedies to help combat these symptoms.

Some people use natural remedies such as:

• Activated charcoal supplements
• Apple cider vinegar
• Chamomile
• Cloves
• Ginger
• Peppermint

#8: Manage Stress Effectively

Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, which can worsen thyroid function and lead to increased abdominal fat. Incorporating stress-reducing practices like mindfulness meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, or even regular time in nature can help balance hormones and support weight loss efforts.

#9: Support Gut Health

A healthy gut microbiome plays a crucial role in immune function and metabolism. Hashimoto’s can be linked with gut inflammation or dysbiosis. Eating probiotic-rich foods, taking probiotics if appropriate, and avoiding gut irritants can improve digestion and may help reduce bloating and weight issues.

#10: Optimize Your Thyroid Medication and Work with Your Doctor

Sometimes, weight gain persists despite lifestyle changes because thyroid hormone levels aren’t optimized. Regular lab testing and close communication with your healthcare provider can ensure your medication dosage is correct, helping improve metabolism and support weight management.

How Much Weight Do You Gain With Hashimoto’s?

Most people who experience weight fluctuation due to Hashimoto’s disease gain about 5-10 pounds. So while it’s annoying to have unnecessary weight gain due to your body’s systems not functioning properly, the issue isn’t insurmountable! Fortunately, there are several diet and lifestyle strategies that may help support healthy weight management.

Hashimoto’s Belly refers to the abdominal bloating and increased belly fat that many people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis experience. When an underactive thyroid slows the metabolism, it affects how the body processes fluids and stores fat. As a result, fluid retention and weight gain tend to accumulate around the midsection, creating a visibly swollen or “puffy” belly.

In addition to weight gain, this bloating can be worsened by digestive issues often linked to Hashimoto’s, such as slowed digestion or gut inflammation.

One example of slower gut motility is gastroparesis. With this condition, the stomach can’t process food the way it normally does; basically, it doesn’t empty correctly. This can cause:

• Bloating
• Nausea; and
• Bowel blockage



Other Hashimoto’s patients may experience constipation. The longer the stool stays in the gastrointestinal tract, the more time bacteria have to ferment. This can lead to excessive gas and bloating.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) happens when too many bacteria from the large intestine migrate to the small intestine. They feed off the carbohydrates and simple sugars you consume, then emit excess gases that build up in the small intestine. This can lead to a large amount of abdominal pain.

If you have gained weight because of your Hashimoto’s disease, getting rid of it can be hard work. But if you’re determined to make some diet and lifestyle changes, you can shed those excess pounds and also help manage your condition.

How much weight you gain can depend on the severity of your Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism. If you don’t feel like you can meet the challenge on your own, you should find someone to help you.



Request a nutrition consultation with Dr. Donna Sergi at HealthierU to get the guidance you need. As specialists in women’s health and wellness, we can help identify potential factors contributing to your symptoms and provide personalized nutrition guidance and natural remedies to support your health and wellness goals. 

Yes, Hashimoto's can make losing weight more difficult. When the disease affects the thyroid, it can lower thyroid hormone levels and slow down your metabolism. As a result, your body may burn fewer calories, which makes weight loss harder. Fatigue, hormonal changes, and being less active because of Hashimoto's can also make it tough to lose weight.



Still, it is possible to lose weight. Managing your thyroid, eating well, staying active, handling stress, and getting enough sleep can all help you reach a healthy weight.

If Hashimoto's disease is causing weight gain or making it difficult to maintain a healthy weight, contact HealthierU for a free consultation. We believe that, with a holistic program of proper nutrition and natural remedies, you can help manage your symptoms and support your thyroid health.

At HealthierU, we focus on personalized care that addresses not just your thyroid health but your overall well-being. Our approach includes tailored nutrition plans, stress management techniques, targeted supplementation, and lifestyle changes designed to support thyroid function and reduce inflammation. For those seeking a natural treatment for hypothyroidism, we focus on personalized strategies that support overall thyroid health and well-being.



The journey toward a healthier you starts here. Contact us today to get started on a path to lasting wellness and renewed vitality. Your thyroid health doesn't have to control your life; let us help you take it back.