Some adolescent girls find that their necks have become noticeably thicker, and wear high-collared clothes even in summer in order not to be seen by others with her thick neck. What is this all about? As we know, the thyroid gland is located on both sides of the throat and trachea, and its main function is to synthesize and secrete thyroid hormones to regulate and promote human metabolism and growth and development, using iodine taken from the diet. Under normal circumstances, the thyroid gland is not visible from the outside because it is small and covered by muscle and skin. Only when the body does not receive enough iodine from the diet, the thyroid gland does not have enough “raw materials” to synthesize enough thyroid hormones, and the thyroid gland becomes active and enlarged to meet the needs of the body’s metabolism and growth and development, resulting in an enlarged thyroid body. Medically, there are two types of goiter: one is when adolescents are at the peak of growth and development, and the body’s need for various nutrients increases, resulting in a relatively low intake of iodine, which causes goiter; the other is when the body’s iodine deficiency is not corrected in a timely manner as the body ages, resulting in goiter. The first category is a functional reaction of the body itself and generally does not require treatment. The second type of goiter, if not treated in time, will not only get worse, but may also endanger the next generation. In women, the need for thyroid hormones increases during puberty and menstruation (including pregnancy and breastfeeding). If the supply of iodine in the diet is insufficient, the synthesis of thyroid hormones will be affected, causing goiter. Another reason why women are prone to goiter is that during puberty, the increased secretion of estrogen in women’s bodies can decrease the iodine content of the thyroid gland, resulting in an enlarged thyroid gland. If you have an enlarged thyroid during puberty, there is no need to be afraid of it, just eat more iodine-rich foods. The main treatment is to eat more seafood such as kelp and seaweed, and also to treat the enlarged gland with small doses of iodine under the guidance of a doctor, 05~1 mg per day for 2~3 weeks as a course of treatment, and repeat after 2~3 weeks of interruption. 1 year later, the enlarged gland can be reduced. However, after taking iodine, it can sometimes cause hyperthyroidism, so caution must be exercised. In some cases, even if adolescent goiter is not treated, the enlarged gland will gradually shrink after puberty as the endocrine balance is regained.