Weight Issue (PCOS)
Experiencing weight gain due to PCOS? Consult the expert PCOS treatment doctor in Mumbai, Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal at Harleys Cosmetic & Women Clinic. She is also associated with the prestigious hospitals like Surya Hospitals: Multispecialty Hospital for Women & Children, Cloudnine Hospital, BSES MG Hospital, and Criticare Asia Multispeciality Hospital in Mumbai.
PCOS, a medical abbreviation for PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome, is the most common hormonal disorder in women belonging to the reproductive age group. It is characterised by the presence of multiple small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) that develop on the outer edge of the ovaries and contain immature eggs- the ovarian follicles.
Women who have PCOS tend to experience persistent irregular menstrual periods (including the missed and/or heavy menses flow), acne, hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the face or body), depression, weight gain, insulin resistance or diabetes, and fertility issues caused by slightly elevated levels of androgens (the male sex hormone).
There is no definite cause of PCOS known to date. However, PCOS expert doctor in Mumbai Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal believes that a combination of environmental factors, heredity, and lifestyle factors including healthy diet and exercise, all contribute to the PCOS symptoms. Researchers have even shown that women with PCOS experience a long-term, low-grade inflammation that causes the polycystic ovaries to produce androgens.
It’s still unclear whether being overweight or obese may be directly associated with PCOS. Many PCOS-affected women are overweight or obese and can be at high risk of diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, and uterine/ovarian cancer.
The Connection Between Body Weight and PCOS
Women who have PCOS are usually content with weight gain and face a constant struggle to lose weight. Weight gain in PCOS patients usually is attributed to insulin resistance.
PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome makes it harder for the body to utilise insulin hormone secreted by the beta cells of islets of Langerhans of the Pancreas. The role of insulin in a healthy body is to convert starches or sugars present in the food into energy. When insulin is not able to be used by the body to serve its purpose, it can result in blood sugar levels increasing- a condition known as insulin resistance.
The elevated levels of insulin in the body can result in more production of male sex hormones, the androgens which further leads to weight gain, along with other PCOS symptoms. As the weight gain is triggered by elevated levels of male sex hormones, typically it takes place in the abdomen and results in an apple-shaped abdominal profile. If the extra belly fat is not removed, it can lead to various health complications.
Insulin even acts as an appetite-stimulating hormone that promotes fat storage. Urgent, strong, and intense cravings have been reported in women who are insulin resistant. Thus, PCOS patients experience more hunger. If their hunger is not managed well, their food cravings could even sabotage their healthy eating habits and lead to higher calorie consumption and weight gain.
Another possible factor that could have an impact on body weight is the abnormal regulation of the hormone responsible for appetite and the feeling of fullness. PCOS patients usually experience dysfunctional levels of their appetite-regulating hormones like ghrelin, leptin, and cholecystokinin, which encourages them to eat more and gain weight.
Meet the Best Gynaecologist Doctor for PCOS in Mumbai, Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal at Harleys Clinic to know more about weight gain caused to PCOS and treatment options. One can also consult her at Surya Hospitals: Multispecialty Hospital for Women & Children, Cloudnine Hospital, BSES MG Hospital, and Criticare Asia Multispeciality Hospital in Mumbai.
Risks Related to PCOS-related Weight Gain
Whatever may be the cause of weight gain in women, it is detrimental to health. Women suffering from PCOS condition are more likely to develop many problems associated with weight gain and insulin resistance, such as:
Most of these risks are linked to heart disease. Health experts even believe that PCOS-associated weight gain can result in other PCOS symptoms like acne and menstrual abnormalities.
Treatment of Weight Gain Caused by PCOS
Women who have PCOS and experiencing weight gain can shed their extra pounds and reduce the severity of their PCOS, involving cutting out on its related health risks. Losing only 10% of body weight in women having PCOS can bring their menstrual periods back to normal. It can even help relieve some of the PCOS symptoms.
Weight loss can help improve insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes, cardiac disease, and other PCOS complications. To lose weight, the patient must start with a doctor’s visit. The doctor will check the patient’s weight, check her waist size, and calculate her body mass index (BMI)- the ratio of height to weight.
Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal, gynaecologist in Mumbai may prescribe different medications to help treat PCOS- associated weight loss. Several medications are approved for PCOS patients, including anti-androgen medications, birth control pills, and Met-for-min/ Glucophage (a diabetes drug). In addition to taking medications, it is important to add healthy habits into the lifestyle to support healthy body weight.
Here are some of the lifestyle approaches to help one keep weight under control, includes:
Harleys Cosmetic and Womens Clinic
101-102, Jyoti Tower, DN Nagar,
Next to Nav Chaitanya, off Link Road,
Andheri West, Mumbai - 400053. Locate us
Request An Appointment
