It is a known fact that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at a higher risk of obesity and chronic diseases. Now that we are in a time when women are more confident about their bodies and want to better understand how to take care of them, it is the right time to discuss the issue of weight loss in PCOS. Is it harder to lose weight with PCOS? Let’s take a quick look at the statistics.
Stats On The Prevalence Of Obesity In Women With PCOS
According to the statistics, more than one-third of women with PCOS are obese, and about 75% of them are either obese or overweight. It is important to point out that being overweight or obese in itself is not a disease, and not all obese people have PCOS. However, it is quite clear that there is a link between PCOS and obesity, and it goes both ways. For example, PCOS patients are more likely to develop diabetes and hypertension, which are common causes of obesity. Additionally, women with PCOS are more likely to have depression and anxiety, which have been known to influence food intake and activity levels. Furthermore, women with PCOS who are obese are at a higher risk of premature death due to heart disease and other health complications. This fact is alarming since obesity is considered a preventable disease.
The Causes Of The Increase In The Prevalence Of Obesity In Women With PCOS
There are various factors that go into the cause of the increase in the prevalence of obesity in women with PCOS. For instance, the syndrome itself makes it harder for women to lose weight. This is due to many factors. First, there is a genetic link that runs in families with PCOS. Therefore, if a woman has a parent, sibling, or child who has the syndrome, she has a 50% chance of developing it herself. Second, due to the fact that obesity is associated with reduced fertility in men and women, fewer women are having children, which makes it even harder for them to lose weight. Additionally, women with PCOS are more likely to see children as a priority over an active lifestyle, since the healthier they are, the better their reproductive potential is. Last, but not least, there is a common misconception that has carried over into the modern day that you need to lose a lot of weight to have a better chance of getting pregnant or maintaining a pregnancy. While this is true for some women, it is not necessarily the case for all. In fact, many doctors will recommend that women with PCOS gain as much weight as they can since extra weight can seriously hamper their ability to get pregnant or give birth to a healthy baby.
In light of the above, it is quite understandable why more and more women are turning to various fad diets and gimmicks in an attempt to shed those extra pounds. While these measures might help for a limited amount of time, if the underlying cause of the weight gain is not addressed, the patient will inevitably be back at square one.
Obesity In Women With PCOS Is A Major Risk Factor For Type 2 Diabetes
It is quite well-established that obese women with PCOS have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This is quite an ominous development, as women with PCOS and type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses. This is why it is important for women with PCOS to try and lose weight, regardless of whether or not they want to get pregnant.
Is It Harder To Lose Weight With PCOS?
Overall, it is not harder to lose weight with PCOS. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Women with PCOS have many advantages when it comes to weight loss. First, as stated by the experts, dieting in general and specifically calorie restriction is known to be extremely effective at reducing body fat in almost all cases. Additionally, exercising regularly is also known to be a key factor in weight loss, and this holds true for women with PCOS. Furthermore, there is an increasing amount of research that shows that the hormones associated with PCOS greatly boost the human body’s ability to burn fat, particularly when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. Finally, women with PCOS have been shown to have a higher metabolic rate, which helps them burn calories more efficiently. This is quite important since as we mentioned above, obesity is known to be a major cause of type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses. Having a higher metabolic rate means that a woman with PCOS is more likely to stay slim forever, which is quite an admirable goal indeed.
With all that said, it is still quite possible for women with PCOS to struggle with weight loss. There are various reasons for this, and in most cases, it is a matter of patient education and making smart dietary and lifestyle choices. For example, there is the common misconception that you need to lose a lot of weight to have a better chance of getting pregnant or maintaining a pregnancy. While this is true for some women, it is not necessarily the case for all. In fact, many doctors will recommend that women with PCOS gain as much weight as they can since extra weight can seriously hamper their ability to get pregnant or give birth to a healthy baby. Additionally, there is the genetic link that runs in families with PCOS. Therefore, if a woman has a parent, sibling, or child who has the syndrome, she has a 50% chance of developing it herself. Finally, it is quite well-established that obese women with PCOS have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This is quite an ominous development, as women with PCOS and type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses. This is why it is important for women with PCOS to try and lose weight, regardless of whether or not they want to get pregnant.