According to an Italian research, obesity among children may damage their thyroid as it creates a vicious cycle of metabolism and overweight. Researchers conducted the study on 186 obese children who were overweight. They tested their thyroid hormone levels, thyroid antibodies and imaging the thyroid gland by using ultrasound for about three years. These tests suggested that their weight might be linked to structural changes in the thyroid.

Dr. Giorgio Radetti of the Regional Hospital of Bolzano in Italy said, in a statement, “Our study shows that alterations in thyroid function and structure are common in obese children and we may have uncovered the link.” He added, “We found an association between body mass index and thyroid hormone levels which suggests that fat excess may have a role in thyroid tissue modification.”

Writing in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, the scientists stated that 73 children had inflamed-looking thyroids, but it was not like a disease called Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a condition in which the body's own immune system attacks the gland. The children lacked antibodies are also involved in the disease. Radetti said, “The ultrasound findings are a bit mysterious but do suggest the existence of a low-grade inflammation state, which has been known to characterize obesity.”

According to him more study is needed to investigate whether losing weight would normalize the thyroid and return the children to health. However, in some cases losing weight has been shown to restore thyroid function.