Weight Gain and Insulin Resistance Related to PCOS
Is everyone with PCOS overweight?
The relationship between weight and PCOS is not well understood...
You could be of normal weight and still have PCOS. However, the majority of women with diagnosed PCOS are overweight or obese.
Being overweight may contribute to developing PCOS, however, weight gain is also a symptom of insulin resistance - which may be a complication of PCOS. It can be a vicious cycle if left unmanaged.
What exactly is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas to control the amount of sugar in your blood. It helps to move glucose from blood into cells, where it's broken down to produce energy.
If you are insulin resistant, it means your body's tissues are resistant to the effects of insulin and glucose is stored as fat. Your body therefore has to produce extra insulin to compensate.
How is this related to PCOS?
High levels of insulin cause your ovaries to produce too much testosterone, which interferes with the development of the follicles (the sacs in the ovaries where eggs develop) and prevents normal ovulation. Women with PCOS produce higher-than-normal levels of male hormones, called androgens. The increased levels of androgens may cause many of the signs and symptoms of PCOS.
Insulin resistance can also lead to weight gain, which can make PCOS symptoms worse, as having excess fat causes the body to produce even more insulin.
Why does it matter if I am overweight with regards to PCOS?
The unfortunate reality is that having PCOS and being overweight or obese may lead to serious health issues that include:
Diabetes
More than half of women with PCOS may develop type 2 diabetes by age 40.
High blood pressure
This can affect the heart, brain and kidneys.
Unhealthy levels of cholesterol
High levels of bad cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) and low levels of good cholesterol (HDL) increases the risk for heart disease.
Sleep apnoea
This is a disorder that causes breathing to stop during sleep and raises the risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Heart disease
Women with PCOS may be at higher risk, and this risk increases with age.
Endometrial cancer
Women entering menopause and older women with PCOS are at risk of cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial cancer).
What can I do to help manage the PCOS complications of weight gain and insulin resistance?
Losing weight when you have PCOS could be challenging. More than a directive to lose weight, you need support and encouragement to adopt a lifestyle that helps you to be in control of your health.
So, what does it mean to make lifestyle changes?
Become more active
Start exercising or changing your lifestyle to include more activity - Take the stairs, sit less and move more.
Make healthier food choices
Eat a balanced, healthy diet on most days. A registered dietician can help you understand what foods are best suited for you.
A simple Three-In-One Formulation
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