Endocrine work-up in obesity: European Society of Endocrinology Guideline

1. We suggest that for all patients it is of value to measure weight and height to calculate BMI, as obesity is an important condition that often remains undiagnosed. For routine care defining obesity as BMI >30 kg/m2 is sufficient as a first diagnostic measure. Measuring waist-circumference can provide additional information especially if BMI <30 kg/m2.


2. We recommend that not all patients with obesity are routinely referred to an endocrinologist.


3. We recommend that weight loss in obesity is emphasized as key to the restoration of hormonal imbalances.


4. We recommend taking into account drugs and dietary supplements that interfere with hormone measurements as part of the hormonal evaluation in obesity.


5. We recommend that all patients with obesity are tested for thyroid function (+++0).


6. We recommend that testing for hypothyroidism is based on TSH; if TSH is elevated, free T4 and antibodies (anti-TPO) should be measured (++00).


7. We do not recommend the routine measurement of FT3 in patients with elevated TSH.


8. We suggest that for obese patients the same normal hormonal values are applied as for non-obese (+000).


9. We recommend that overt hypothyroidism (elevated TSH and decreased FT4) is treated in obesity irrespective of antibodies (++00).


10. We recommend against the use of thyroid hormones to treat obesity in case of normal thyroid function (++00).


11. We recommend that hyperthyrotropinaemia (elevated TSH and normal FT4) should not be treated in obesity with the aim of reducing body weight (++00).


12. We suggest that for the decision to treat or not to treat hyperthyrotropinaemia, TSH level, thyroid antibodies, and age should be taken into account.


13. We suggest against the use of routine ultrasound of the thyroid gland irrespective of thyroid function.


14. We recommend that testing for hypercortisolism is not routinely applied in obesity (++00).


15. In patients with clinical suspicion of hypercortisolism biochemical testing should be performed (++00).


16. We recommend that in patients going for bariatric surgery (testing for) hypercortisolism should be considered.


17. We suggest that for patients with obesity the same normal values are applied as for non-obese (+000).


18. We recommend not to test for hypercortisolism in patients using corticosteroids.


19. If hypercortisolism testing is considered, we recommend a 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test as a first screening tool.


20. If the 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test is positive, we recommend a second biochemical test; this can be either 24-h urine cortisol or late-night salivary cortisol.


21. In all patients with confirmed hypercortisolism, an ACTH should be measured and further imaging should be performed to find the cause/source of the hypercortisolism.


22. Treatment of proven endogenous hypercortisolism is not normalizing BMI in most cases.


23. We recommend that biochemical testing for hypogonadism is not routinely applied in male obese patients; we do recommend investigating key clinical symptoms/signs of hypogonadism (++00).


24. In male patients with obesity with clinical features of hypogonadism, we suggest measuring total and free testosterone (or calculated), SHBG, FSH and LH.


25. In obesity, we suggest applying age-specific reference ranges for testosterone (+000).


26. We recommend emphasizing the importance of weight loss to restore eugonadism in obese patients with biochemical and clinical hypogonadism.


27. We suggest that if weight loss cannot be achieved and if clinical and biochemical hypogonadism persists, treatment with testosterone can be considered in individual cases; contra-indications should be considered and other causes of hypogonadism should have been ruled out. The sole presence of obesity is not enough reason to start testosterone (+000).


28. We suggest treatment with testosterone aiming at testosterone levels in the normal range (+000).


29. We suggest stopping testosterone treatment if clinical features are not improving despite biochemical restoration for 6–12 months (+000).


30. We do not recommend testosterone treatment as a first therapeutic measure in hypogonadal male patients with obesity seeking fertility (+000).


31. We recommend that testing for gonadal dysfunction is not routinely applied in female patients with obesity (++00).


32. We suggest assessing gonadal function in female patients with obesity with menstrual irregularities and chronic anovulation/infertility.


33. For evaluation of menstrual irregularity, we suggest assessing gonadal function by measuring LH, FSH, total testosterone, SHBG, Δ 4androstenedione, oestradiol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and prolactin. If the menstrual cycle is irregular but somewhat predictable, we suggest that the assessment should take place during the early follicular phase.


34. For evaluation of anovulation, we suggest a gonadal function to be assessed by measuring LH, FSH, oestradiol, progesterone and prolactin.


35. We recommend assessing androgen excess when PCOS is considered based on the clinical features. We suggest measuring total testosterone, free T, Δ 4androstenedione and SHBG. We additionally recommend assessing ovarian morphology and blood glucose.


36. We suggest initiating metformin treatment in women with PCOS that additionally present metabolic syndrome features (++00).


37. We recommend not to start metformin with the sole aim to reduce body weight (+000).


38. We recommend not to start oestrogen substitution in postmenopausal obese women with the sole aim to reduce body weight (+000).


39. We recommend that testing for IGF1/GH is not routinely applied in obesity (+000).


40. We suggest testing for IGF1/GH only in patients with suspected hypopituitarism; if tested a dynamic test should be performed as a minimum (+000).


41. We recommend not to use GH to treat obesity in patients with normal GH levels (+000).


42. We suggest not to perform routine tests for vitamin D deficiency in patients with obesity (+000).


43. We suggest not to test for hyperparathyroidism routinely in patients with obesity (+000).


44. We recommend not to test routinely other hormones, such as leptin and ghrelin, unless there is suspicion of syndromic obesity.


45. We suggest considering the secondary causes of hypertension in the context of therapy-resistant hypertension in obesity.

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