Updated September 22, 2015.

Kelly Osbourne, 22, pop star and daughter of legendary Black Sabbath metal rocker/ditzy reality tv dad Ozzy Osbourne, has revealed that her recent weight loss of almost 30 pounds is due to an untreated thyroid condition. While the type of condition was not specified, it's likely that she is suffering from hyperthyroidism, the thyroid condition that most commonly causes dramatic weight loss in a person of Osbourne's age.
According to news reports, Osbourne is also refusing treatment, because she fears regaining the weight.


Osbourne has been telling the press that she has lost two stone (28 pounds), and that it was not through exercise or diet.

Osbourne reportedly told The Mirror:

"Forget all that healthy-eating bulls***. I have a thyroid problem which means I s*** all the time. My doctors want me to start taking steroids for it but f*** that. I don't want to put all the weight back on again."

Are Osbourne's Concerns Unfounded?

Osbourne's decision to refuse treatment is controversial, however, her belief that treatment will cause her to gain weight is supported by medical research. Studies have shown that weight lost during the hyperthyroid period is frequently regained, with a mean post-treatment weight gain of some 8 pounds per year.

The Risks of Non-Treatment

Unfortunately, if Osbourne does in fact have untreated hyperthyroidism, she is taking a substantial risk. Someone who is hyperthyroid but refusing treatment faces a number of potential health implications, including:

• Osteoporosis -- periods of hyperthyroid disease without treatment can rapidly advance bone loss, and cause osteoporosis and loss of bone density earlier in life.

• Fatigue, exhaustion, insomnia
• Tremors, shaking hands
• Heart palpitations, high pulse rate, tachycardia
• High blood pressure
• Frequent diarrhea
• Anxiety, nervousness, panic attacks, panic disorder
• Weak muscles
• Coarse, dry, brittle hair or hair loss
• Hoarseness in the voice
• Depression
• Loss of sex drive
• Irregular menstruation
• Thyroid eye disease, eye irritation

A small percentage of people with hyperthyroidism are also at risk of a very dangerous condition known as thyroid storm -- and the risk is higher for those who are untreated. During thyroid storm, the heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature become uncontrollably high, and this life-threatening condition requires treatment within hours to avoid fatal complications such as stroke or heart attack.

Could You Be Hyperthyroid?

Find out more about hyperthyroidism here at the About.com site:

• QUIZ: Could You Be Hyperthyroid?
• Hyperthyroidism Risks/Symptoms Checklist

Mary Shomon, About.com's Thyroid Guide since 1997, is a nationally-known patient advocate and best-selling author of 10 books on health, including "The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss," "Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know," "Living Well With Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism," "Living Well With Autoimmune Disease," "Living Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia," and the "Thyroid Guide to Fertility, Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Success." Click here for more information on Mary Shomon.
Sources: Virgin.net's Music news, KellyOsbourne.com

Photo: KellyOsbourne.com