A Hidden Cause of Weight Gain

Weight loss is never easy, but if you’re really struggling to shed the excess kilos, especially around your middle – it could be Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Other clues that may point to PCOS includes irregular or a complete lack of periods, acne, excess facial or body hair, thinning hair on the head, and difficulty falling pregnant. In fact PCOS is often not discovered until a woman begins investigating why she is having difficulty conceiving. But getting the problem diagnosed isn’t easy.

Kate Marsh, a Sydney-based Accredited Practising Dietitian with a special interest in PCOS, stresses the importance of early diagnosis. She says due to a lack of awareness, many GPs don’t put all the symptoms together. Besides disrupting fertility, PCOS can also set women up for serious health problems like diabetes and heart disease in the future.

"The underlying cause of PCOS symptoms which includes weight gain – is insulin resistance. This means that insulin, the hormone that controls blood-sugar levels, doesn’t work properly. Besides making weight loss difficult, excess insulin plays havoc with hormones which cause the other symptoms. "

Many women need a drug, Metformin, a diabetes drug that lowers insulin, to help improve insulin resistance. But improving your diet and regular exercise are always the first line of PCOS treatment. Evidence suggests that low GI foods are best. With exercise, both cardio and strength training gives better results than cardio alone. Besides boosting metabolism to help weight loss, studies show that building more muscle helps you control blood sugar. www.managingpcos.org.au