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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Petros PerrosORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2024. Purpose: The use of thyroid hormones (TH) to treat obesity is unsupported by evidence as reflected in international guidelines. We explored views about this practice, and associations with respondent characteristics among European thyroid specialists. Methods: Specialists from 28 countries were invited to a survey via professional organisations. The relevant question was whether “Thyroid hormones may be indicated in biochemically euthyroid patients with obesity resistant to lifestyle interventions”. Results: Of 17,232 invitations 5695 responses were received (33% valid response rate; 65% women; 90% endocrinologists). Of these, 290 (5.1%) stated that TH may be indicated as treatment for obesity in euthyroid patients. This view was commoner among non-endocrinologists (8.7% vs. 4.7%, p < 0.01), private practice (6.5% vs. 4.5%, p < 0.01), and varied geographically (Eastern Europe, 7.3%; Southern Europe, 4.8%; Western Europe, 2.7%; and Northern Europe, 2.5%). Respondents from Northern and Western Europe were less likely to use TH than those from Eastern Europe (p < 0.01). Gross national income (GNI) correlated inversely with this view (OR 0.97, CI: 0.96–0.97; p < 0.001). Having national guidelines on hypothyroidism correlated negatively with treating obesity with TH (OR 0.71, CI: 0.55–0.91). Conclusions: Despite the lack of evidence, and contrary to guidelines’ recommendations, about 5% of respondents stated that TH may be indicated as a treatment for obesity in euthyroid patients resistant to life-style interventions. This opinion was associated with (i) respondent characteristics: being non-endocrinologist, working in private practice, treating a small number of hypothyroid patients annually and (ii) national characteristics: prevalence of obesity, Eastern Europe, low GNI and lack of national hypothyroidism guidelines.
Author(s): Galofre JC, Diez JJ, Attanasio R, Nagy EV, Negro R, Papini E, Perros P, Zarkovic M, Akarsu E, Alevizaki M, Ayvaz G, Bednarczuk T, Beleslin BN, Berta E, Bodor M, Borissova AM, Boyanov M, Buffet C, Burlacu MC, Dobnig H, Fadeyev V, Field BCT, Fliers E, Fuhrer D, Hakala T, Jiskra J, Kopp P, Krebs M, Krsek M, Kuzma M, Lantz M, Lazurova I, Leenhardt L, Luchytskiy V, Puga FM, McGowan A, Metso S, Moran C, Morgunova T, Niculescu DA, Peric B, Planck T, Poiana C, Robenshtok E, Rosselet PO, Ruchala M, Riis KR, Shepelkevich A, Tronko M, Unuane D, Vardarli I, Visser WE, Vryonidou M, Younes YR, Hegedus L
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
Year: 2025
Volume: 48
Pages: 201-212
Print publication date: 01/01/2025
Online publication date: 15/06/2024
Acceptance date: 03/06/2024
Date deposited: 25/06/2024
ISSN (print): 0391-4097
ISSN (electronic): 1720-8386
Publisher: Springer Nature
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-024-02409-z
DOI: 10.1007/s40618-024-02409-z
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