October 18, 2007
Could You Have the Same Condition That Caused Oprah's Weight Gain?
Oprah Winfrey's big announcement that she has been suffering from thyroid dysfunction has touched a nerve with millions of women across the nation.
Oprah, 53, decided to come forward with her thyroid imbalance to bring attention to “the many other women who are going through the same thing,” she said.
In fact, Oprah said that "Twenty-five percent of pre-menopausal and menopausal women experience some kind of issue of their thyroid…and most women don't know that that's what it is.”
Oprah's condition caused her to pack on 20 pounds, which she blames on stress.
Today, “Extra” brings you the shocking news that what happened to Oprah could happen to you.
Millions of Americans suffer from thyroid disfunction, so “Extra” went to leading Beverly Hills endocrinologist Dr. Pejman Cohan to debunk the mystery of Oprah's problem.
“High levels of stress can bring out thyroid issues,” Dr. Cohan said.
He added, “Oprah is going to fine. It's very treatable. It's not a condition like diabetes or cancer.”
So what are the symptoms?
Dr. Cohan said symptoms include an unexpected weight gain, exhaustion, mood changes, body aches or feeling cold.
So is there a cure?
No – but medication will relieve the symptoms and can reverse the weight gain.
“Oprah's experiences are a great lesson,” Dr. Cohan told us. “It's simple and inexpensive to have your thyroid tested.”