Medichecks JD Gyms PT Handbook

Thyroid Function
Fatigue Weight gain Anxiety
What do we test?
• Thyroid hormones
• There are several thyroid hormones (TSH, T4 and T3) working together
to govern metabolism.
• If metabolism is high or too low it can affect wellbeing and sporting
performance.
What are we looking for?
Your thyroid can be overactive or underactive.
Overactive = hyperthyroidism = metabolism is too fast.
Underactive = hypothyroidism = metabolism is too slow. An underactive
thyroid is far more common than an overactive one.
Many people will already know if they have a thyroid problem and will be being
treated for it, however responses to medication vary over time so our tests
help them to adjust their doses to optimise their thyroid function.
Sometimes we’ll pick up a new thyroid diagnosis and we’ll refer them to their
GP for treatment.
How does it help me?
Understanding performance
Many of your clients will come with a goal of weight loss and sometimes do
not make the progress that you or they expect. Identifying whether a thyroid
problem is behind a weight problem is important in setting realistic goals.
Having a thyroid disorder can be detrimental to training, especially if the thyroid
is underactive. Thyroid conditions are highly personal, so always try to learn
about your client’s situation, if they are happy to share.
Training intensively can sometimes cause mild decreases in T3 and T4, which is
why we sometimes recommend a repeat blood test for mild abnormalities. If
we can see that the thyroid hormones are stable then it is likely to be caused by
exercise and is not a sign that someone is developing a thyroid problem.
Thyroid supplements are sometimes taken by bodybuilders and others
to stimulate the metabolism and lose weight. It is not safe to take thyroid
supplements if you do not have a thyroid problem.
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Take home message
Thyroid imbalance can have a huge effect on performance; get to know your
client and how their thyroid affects them.