Polycystic ovarian syndrome, also known as PCOS, is a condition in which the ovaries develop multiple fluid-filled sacs, known as as cysts. These cysts are caused by hormonal imbalances. One way in which the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome can be relieved is through the loss of excess weight.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Symptoms
There are a variety of symptoms associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome, the National Women's Health Information Center explains. Women with PCOS may have irregular or absent periods as well as oily skin and acne. They are also frequently obese and may have unusually high amounts of body hair, known as hirsutism. Many women with PCOS also develop male-pattern baldness and skin tags. Depression, pelvic pain and hyperpigmented patches of skin are other symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Insulin Resistance and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
One of the causes of polycystic ovarian syndrome is insulin resistance, the Mayo Clinic notes. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body does not respond properly to levels of insulin in the blood. As a result, the pancreas produces more insulin to try to compensate for the body's resistance to the insulin. This increased insulin production can cause the body to overproduce other hormones, such as estrogen. Overproduction of these hormones can lead to polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Excess Body Weight and Insulin Resistance
Excess body weight has been strongly linked to insulin resistance. One of the tissues that responds to insulin is fat tissue. Women who are severely overweight or obese often have insulin resistance, as the extra body fat can disrupt the response of all of the tissues in the body to insulin levels. Most, though not all, women who have PCOS are overweight, the International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination explains.
Weight Loss and Symptoms
Women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome can benefit from losing weight, UpToDate explains. The loss of between 5 and 10 percent of the woman's body weight can help ameliorate some of the symptoms of polycystic ovarian disease, such as irregularity of the menstrual periods. The loss of some of this excess weight may also help reduce insulin resistance, UpToDate states, which can not only help reduce the symptoms of PCOS but can also lower a woman's chance of developing diabetes.
Techniques
Women who have PCOS and want to lose weight can use the same techniques as women without PCOS, UpToDate reports. An exercise program combined with a restricted calorie diet can help women lose weight in a healthy way. Weight loss medications such as prescription stimulants can also help curb the appetite and increase the rate at which calories are burned. Finally, weight loss surgery can help obese women lose large amounts of weight very quickly.
Member Comments