POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME
​
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, is a hormonal disorder that is commonly associated with obesity in women. Insulin resistance, the heart of the disorder, leads to androgen-producing cysts in the ovaries.
Unfortunately, PCOS not only gets worse with weight gain but also makes it harder to lose weight. If you suffer from this disorder, you may find that the best way to reduce your symptoms is medication combined with a professional weight loss program.
UNDERSTANDING THE WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGES OF PCOS
PCOS is so difficult to manage because it creates a positive feedback loop within your body. Insulin resistance floods your body with insulin every time you digest sugars. Once the insulin recedes, you start craving more sugar and the cycle continues. In the meantime, your body responds to the elevated insulin levels, including spurring the release of testosterone in your ovaries.
This vicious cycle can lead to unwanted weight gain and other unpleasant side effects like acne and excess hair growth. More importantly, a tendency toward weight gain and insulin resistance puts women with PCOS at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes. For this reason, controlling the disorder and maintaining a healthy weight is essential for your long-term health and comfort.
REGULATING HORMONE PRODUCTION
When it comes to PCOS, a diet and healthy exercise are not always enough to see real progress. Doctors typically prescribe medications meant to manage hormone production or insulin resistance. Metformin and hormonal birth control are common tools used to manage the condition. Combining these medications, or a similar medication, with an expert weight loss program may help bring your PCOS under control.
STARTING AN EXERCISE PROGRAM
Beginning and sticking to an exercise program presents many challenges, especially when you are overweight. You may be nervous about joining a gym, or not know where to begin. Whatever your situation, the specialists at Vitalogy can work with you to create a safe, sustainable and effective exercise program to help boost your weight loss.
REDUCING YOUR SUGAR INTAKE
Besides giving you a rush of energy, sugar stimulates insulin production in the body. Insulin resistant people produce too much insulin in response to sugar. Over time, this can lead to a number of health problems, most notably type 2 diabetes. The simplest way to stop the insulin resistance cycle is to reduce your consumption of refined sugars.
Of course, cutting out sugar is sometimes easier said than done. For several weeks after you begin phasing out sugary foods, you may notice increased cravings and hunger as your body adjusts. This will, however, pass with time, and it could save you from the headache of managing diabetes for the rest of your life. As an added bonus, cutting sugars will also accelerate your weight loss.
The specialists at Vitalogy can help you stay strong and commit to a healthier diet for the long-term. By consulting with experts, you can work together to find a lifestyle you can live with. This means learning to make healthier choices without denying every little pleasure in life. Moderation paired with commitment is the key to successful change.
MONITORING YOUR WEIGHT AND HEALTH
PCOS is a lifelong condition, but it doesn't need to be a life-ending one. If you are tired of the steady weight gain and many negative side-effects of this disorder, start making the changes you need today. To set up an appointment with a specialist, call Vitalogy Health and Integrative Medicine today and begin taking control over your own body.