Physical Activity, Diet and Overweight in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: A Current Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction and purpose. Hashimoto's disease affects approximately 3% of the population and its prevalence is steadily increasing. As a result, unverified information and lifestyle-related advice are increasingly appearing on social media. This research aims to systematize knowledge on excessive body weight, physical activity, and nutrition in Hashimoto’s disease.

Material and methods. Scientific articles on Hashimoto’s disease were searched in medical databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase, focusing on information about the disease, excessive body weight and healthy lifestyle.

State of knowledge. In Hashimoto’s disease, excessive body weight is more commonly seen even in the euthyroid phase. Adhering to the doctors’ treatment recommendations remains the key strategy. Social media should not replace evidence-based information about healthy living with this condition. Balanced nutrition and physical activity are important in combating obesity in Hashimoto’s disease. So far, no specific types of diets or exercise have been shown to offer superior outcomes in patients with this condition. Taking care of patients’ mental health is a crucial element in supporting obesity treatment in the disease, while weight reduction combined with physical activity may lead to an alleviation of depressive symptoms.

Conclusions. The most important strategy, alongside pharmacological treatment supervised by a specialist, is adopting a health-promoting lifestyle based on recommendations for the general population. However, individual patient differences must be considered, and lifestyle modifications should be guided holistically under physician supervision.