Thyroid problems
Underactive and overactive thyroid, thyroid swelling, and adjusting thyroid tablets with TSH.
Hormones and weight · Aminjikarai, Chennai
Thyroid, hormonal health and weight in Chennai
Many problems that look like tiredness, weight gain or low mood are driven by hormones and metabolism. Getting the diagnosis right, and treating weight as a medical condition rather than a matter of willpower, makes the plan work.
Hormones and weight
What I see
Weight gain and obesity
A medical weight plan: food, activity, sleep and, when suitable, medicines.
Prediabetes and insulin resistance
Catching rising sugars early, when changes work best.
PCOS and metabolism
Weight, sugar and cholesterol problems that come with PCOS in adult women, alongside your gynaecologist.
Vitamin D and B12
Testing who actually needs it, and correcting deficiency properly.
Cholesterol and fatty liver
Metabolic problems that travel with weight, treated together.
Good to know
A healthy weight for Indian adults
Indians develop diabetes and heart disease at lower weights than Western populations, so the healthy ranges are tighter:
- BMI: 18.5–22.9 is healthy, 23–24.9 is overweight, and 25 or above is obesity
- Waist: aim for under 90 cm for men and under 80 cm for women
- Weight around the waist matters more than weight on the scale
Treatment starts with what you eat, how you move and how you sleep. For some people with obesity, newer medicines (such as GLP-1 based medicines) can help alongside these changes, but they need a doctor's prescription, monitoring and the right patient. They are not for cosmetic weight loss.
If you need an endocrinologist, a dietitian or a bariatric surgeon, I'll tell you and refer you.
Don't wait for an OPD slot
See a doctor promptly for
- Fast heartbeat, tremor and weight loss without trying
- A lump or swelling in the neck that is growing
- Weight gain with new swelling of the legs or breathlessness
- Feeling very drowsy, cold and slow, getting worse
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is my weight gain because of my thyroid?
An underactive thyroid can add a few kilos, but it is rarely the main reason for large weight gain. A simple TSH blood test tells you, and treating the thyroid helps energy more than weight.
Do weight-loss injections work?
GLP-1 based medicines can help selected people with obesity lose weight when combined with diet and activity. They have side effects, need a prescription and monitoring, and the weight can return if they are stopped without a plan.
Will I need thyroid tablets for life?
For most people with an underactive thyroid, yes. The dose is adjusted with TSH tests, usually every 6 to 12 months once stable.
Should everyone take vitamin D?
No. Test if you have symptoms or risk factors such as bone pain, low sun exposure or kidney disease. Very high doses without testing can cause harm.
Is a crash diet a good idea?
Usually not. Rapid weight loss is hard to keep off and can cause gallstones and muscle loss. Slow, steady loss of half to one kilo a week lasts longer.
Do you consult in Tamil?
Yes. Consultations are in Tamil or English. தமிழிலும் பேசலாம்.
Patients visit from Aminjikarai, Anna Nagar, Kilpauk, Chetpet, Shenoy Nagar, Purasawalkam, Arumbakkam and across Chennai.
Appointments
88077 79174
Call or WhatsApp for appointments and timings. Please don't send reports or ask for treatment advice here; bring them to the OPD.
You can also book online at MGM Healthcare or call the hospital on 044 4524 2407.
More from the OPD
Other areas of care
This page gives general information and is not a substitute for a consultation. Timings, what to bring and more →