PCOS & Weight Loss
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is reported to affect one in every ten women of childbearing age in the United States. Symptoms of PCOS include infertility, lack of ovulation, excess body hair, oily skin, male pattern baldness, insulin resistance and weight gain. The resistance to insulin can make it difficult for women with PCOS to effectively lose weight without making some lifestyle modifications. With proper diet and exercise, women with PCOS can lose weight and even mitigate some of the symptoms of this condition.
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Insulin Resistance
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The body's natural response to eating is to produce a certain amount of insulin. In women with PCOS and insulin resistance, the body's response to the insulin is impaired, causing more insulin to be produced than is necessary. This raises the blood sugar, and eventually the body's cells become less receptive to insulin. This cycle, which triggers cravings for carbohydrates and food, often leads to weight gain.
Medical Treatment
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Since PCOS has no cure, treatment addresses the symptoms. Use of drugs such as Glucophage or Fortamet (metformin hcl) can sensitize the body to insulin again, which helps to regulate the insulin response. These drugs are effectively used in treatment for diabetics. Side effects of metformin can include weight loss and stomach upset. Helping regulate the body's insulin with metformin can lead to more effective fuel consumption, and the cravings for carbohydrates may subside.
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Carbohydrates and Insulin Resistance
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A diet rich in processed foods, including refined sugar and flour, can contribute to the insulin resistance and lead to weight gain. These foods trigger an insulin response from the body. They raise the blood sugar and begin a cycle of cravings that can be difficult to escape. Eliminating foods such as processed sugars, white flour, and white rice can help regulate this response and end the cravings.
Substitutions
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Carbohydrates are a necessary part of any diet, and eliminating them entirely is difficult or impossible and may pose health risks. Substituting high fiber foods provides a necessary energy boost without causing the blood sugar to spiral uncontrollably. Whole wheat flour, brown rice and sweet potatoes can be substituted for refined and processed counterparts. The fiber in these foods help to mitigate the body's response and cause less insulin production. Focusing on these substitutions as well as increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables and lean protein can promote weight loss.
Fitness
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Part of a successful weight loss program is exercise, especially for women with PCOS. Combined with a low-carb diet, exercise helps increase lean muscle tissue and may retrain the body to burn fat more effectively, even when at rest. For women with PCOS, this is essential. Increasing activity, even in slow increments, can have an overall beneficial effect. While women with PCOS may have difficulty losing weight, the right combination of diet, exercise and medication may overcome those obstacles and lead to a healthier lifestyle.
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