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Metabolic Disorders

Dear Women Over 40,

A lot of people like to blame their excess weight on physical problems but the truth is that very few people actually have a metabolic disorder that would cause them to gain excessive weight.

In most cases, people that are overweight are that way because they simply eat more calories than they burn. Below are some metabolic disorders that could affect the way your metabolism functions.

The function of your thyroid is directly related to your metabolism which is why you always hear a lot of people say they have a thyroid problem when they are overweight. While a lot of times as maybe just an excuse, there are two thyroid problems that can affect metabolism.

One of these is hyperthyroidism. This happens when your thyroid is overactive and it actually increases your metabolismWhat's happening is your thyroid is producing too much of the hormone thyroxine which causes your metabolism to get out of whack.

In fact, you burn a lot more calories than you normally should for your size and body type and this can result in weight loss, high blood pressure and increased heart rate.

While the weight loss may seem like a positive effect, it usually isn't because in this case you will have trouble maintaining your weight no matter what you eat and that's quite unhealthy.

Hypothyroidism is the opposite and happens when you're thyroid is under active and does not produce enough of the hormone. This is usually a problem with the thyroid gland itself but in rare cases it could be caused by an iodine deficiency or a problem with the pituitary gland. Hypothyroidism can cause weight gain, loss of energy and a slow heart rate.

Phenylketonuria is a genetic disorder which causes a deficiency in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase which is used to metabolize certain amino acids. This occurs mainly in newborns and, since this enzyme is critical to growth, if it is left untreated it can cause severe damage.

Another genetic disorder is Galactosemia which is a deficiency in the liver enzyme used to break down a byproduct of lactose. Again, this happens in infants and if left untreated can have severe results.

Another enzyme deficiency is called G6PD deficiency and is an inherent condition where the body doesn't make enough glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD).

This enzyme is necessary for the normal metabolic processes that have to do with red blood cells. It also helps the body metabolize carbohydrates and turn them into energy.

While metabolic disorders can be serious, most of the time they're no excuse for being overweight. However, if you feel that you have the disorder you should see your health care professional right away to get an accurate diagnosis.

Women Over 40 Health

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