Weight Loss and PCOS

PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affects around 1/10 of all women of childbearing age, according to information from the US Department of Health & Human Services. In fact, even girls who are as young as 11 can be affected by PCOS. It is the main cause of infertility in females and of menstrual disorders.

One of the worst effects of PCOS is that the sufferer may be unable to lose weight, especially in the belly region. It is not known exactly what causes PCOS; however, it is believed by some scientists that it is a hormonal problem which results from a genetic predisposition, and that its cause is the body’s inability to correctly use insulin. The undesirable outcomes include weight gain and female problems.

Beat PCOS with a Good Fitness Regimen and Healthy Diet


Lots of women who have PCOS, however, have succeeded in losing weight, and at the same time alleviated their PCOS symptoms by means of a careful exercise and diet plan. This plan includes the consumption of healthy foods which are unprocessed and also low GI (glycemic index).

The glycemic index lists food types according to the amount by which they increase the body’s blood sugar levels two to three hours after consumption. High carbohydrate foods appear high on this index, since they are food types with the highest likelihood of increasing blood sugar levels. Healthy foods such as non-starchy types of vegetables and fruits, appear lower on the index. If you limit your consumption of starchy foods, and ones containing white rice and flour, and eat instead foods which are low GI, then you can lose the battle against weight, even if you have PCOS.

For any weight loss regime to be successful it needs to include exercise, and plenty of it. If a woman has PCOS, this is even more important, because you have to burn lots more calories than you consume. Regular exercise also has the benefit of increasing the metabolism, and this in turn reduces the levels of bad hormones in the body and therefore to balance your levels of insulin. Women with PCOS have higher levels of the male hormone testosterone than average, and exercise helps them to use up this hormone and hence it is eliminated more quickly from the body.

The key to weight loss for a woman with PCOS is to have the advice and encouragement of a healthcare provider, so that you can be sure the exercise and diet plans are right for you. There is a lot of very confusing information around, and the best idea is to discuss the issue with people who have the right information, and know how to lose that weight and keep it off. The prevalence of PCOS means that there are lots of resources available, as well as support forums which you can access online, and these can be a lot of help in your battle against the resulting symptoms.

If your diagnosis of PCOS is quite recent, or you know a person with this condition, you probably know how frustrating it can be to lose weight. Make sure that you do some research, and find out all you can about PCOS, as well as getting all the necessary support. This is the best way to achieve success in your weight loss aim. There are millions of women with PCOS who have succeeded in losing weight, and over time you can shed weight as well as reducing your PCOS symptoms.