PCOS Management: Why Weight Control Is So Important

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can affect many aspects of a woman’s health, from menstrual cycles and fertility to skin changes and mood. But for many women, one of the most frustrating challenges is weight gain. 

Many women with PCOS struggle with weight that’s difficult to lose and even harder to keep off. The good news is that even modest weight loss can make a big difference in PCOS symptoms, and with the right medical support, losing weight and keeping it off is absolutely possible.

At Feminine Urgicare, our skilled women’s health team is fully committed to helping women find weight-management solutions that work despite PCOS-related challenges. 

In this post, learn why weight control is so important for women with PCOS, and how our team can help you achieve a healthier weight.

Weight and PCOS: Understanding the link

PCOS affects millions of women, causing symptoms like irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, and weight gain. 

In PCOS, the ovaries develop lots of cysts (tiny fluid-filled sacs) that interfere with normal ovulation. Researchers aren’t completely sure what causes it, but they do know genetics and environmental factors likely play a role.

While it’s tempting to think women with PCOS can lose and maintain weight levels with diet and exercise, weight gain with PCOS isn’t just about lifestyle choices. Instead, it’s rooted in how your body processes hormones — not just estrogen, but hormones like insulin, too. 

Insulin resistance, hormones, and inflammation

PCOS is associated with insulin resistance, a condition that makes it harder for your body to use glucose (blood sugar) effectively and efficiently. As a result, your body produces more insulin, the hormone that helps balance blood sugar. 

Excess insulin leads to increased fat storage, along with weight gain that tends to occur most often around the belly region. 

In turn, excess fatty tissue and elevated insulin can increase PCOS symptoms, creating a weight-related cycle that’s difficult to break without ongoing medical support.

Hormonal changes in PCOS can also increase your appetite and food cravings, making it harder to follow a healthy diet and control portion size. 

These changes also lead to chronic low-grade inflammation, another hallmark symptom of PCOS. Once again, inflammation affects insulin management while increasing feelings of fatigue, making it harder to exercise and stay active.

Taken together, these factors make it much easier to gain weight with PCOS, and much harder to lose it and keep it off.

Managing weight despite PCOS

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to maintain a healthier weight. 

While diet and exercise definitely play roles in weight management for women with PCOS, a successful weight-loss plan begins with medical treatment for PCOS and the underlying challenges it poses.

Many women benefit from hormone replacement therapy that focuses on stabilizing levels of estrogen and achieving a better balance between both estrogen and androgens like testosterone. 

By balancing your hormones, you limit the hormonal shifts that underpin many PCOS symptoms, including weight-related issues. Other medications can help improve the way insulin works to help your body burn calories more efficiently.

Following a PCOS-friendly diet can help improve insulin sensitivity, too. That means focusing on lean proteins, whole grains, and non-starchy vegetables avoids spikes in blood sugar that can make it harder for insulin to keep glucose in check.

Staying active is also very important. Not only can regular exercise help you lose weight, but it can also decrease the risks of heart disease and diabetes, which tend to be more common among women with PCOS. 

Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes each day, focusing on moderate-intensity aerobic activities such as walking, bicycling, or dancing. Find an activity you enjoy so you’ll be more likely to stick with it.

Managing PCOS: The first step

If you have PCOS, the first step in managing your symptoms is to schedule an exam and evaluation with our team, and this month — PCOS Awareness Month — is an ideal time. 

In addition to a physical exam and a review of your symptoms, we use lab tests to measure your hormone levels and evaluate your risks for heart disease, diabetes, and other potential complications.

To learn how we can help you manage your PCOS symptoms and enjoy better health, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Feminine Urgicare in Paramus and Clifton, New Jersey, today.