Because the weight gain is triggered by male hormones, it is typically in the abdomen. That is where men tend to carry weight. So, instead of having a pear shape, women with PCOS have more of an apple shape. Abdominal fat is the most dangerous kind of fat.
Insulin resistance is the main cause of weight gain in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Insulin resistance is when some cells in the body do not respond to the insulin produced by the pancreas. As a result, the pancreas produces more insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Women with PCOS have higher levels of male hormones and many tend to be overweight or obese. Lots of women with PCOS have excess body hair, acne, irregular periods, and weight gain specifically in the abdomen. Instead of the traditional female pear shape, those with PCOS tend to have an apple shape.
It's usually large and bloated but can also be small and round, depending on genes and other factors. It involves visceral fat accumulation in the lower abdomen and typically feels hard to touch. A PCOS belly is also characterized by a high waist-to-hip ratio of >0.87 (apple body shape).
Polycystic ovary syndrome is an obesity-related condition. As such, weight-gain and obesity contribute towards the development of PCOS. However, there are also mechanisms whereby the development of PCOS can contribute towards further weight-gain and hamper efforts to establish effective weight-loss.
Your Body Is Storing More Fat, Especially Around The Abdomen
But even if you are not insulin resistant, scientists have found many patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have belly fat. Studies have revealed PCOS is associated with higher central abdominal fat deposits independent of BMI.
Often, the skin can be a window to what is occurring inside your body. For women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, this this may mean acne, hair loss, excessive facial or body hair growth, dark patches on the skin, or any combination of these issues.
The effect of PCOS on the incidence of fibrocystic breast changes was 2.49 (95% CI 1.85–3.34). Also, the effect of hypothyroidism on the incidence of fibrocystic breast changes was 1.90 (95% CI 0.92–3.93). The results showed that women with PCOS were at higher risks to develop fibrocystic breast changes.
Women with PCOS have a different balance of gut bacteria that can reduce the absorption of nutrients and can have trouble digesting food properly. This can lead to bloating and abdominal discomfort.
Upon assessment, many women with PCOS describe little or no breast changes during the pregnancy, and examination reveals breasts that are tubular in shape, widely spaced, or asymmetrical.
You may notice acne on your face, chest, and upper back. Breakouts may be chronic and painful. Some women also develop skin tags, which are small flaps of skin around the neck or armpits.
Losing weight is challenging with PCOS, but not impossible. It may take you longer to lose weight than someone without hormonal imbalances. While slow progress can feel discouraging, a healthy lifestyle has benefits you may not notice right away.
Myth #2: If You Lose Weight, You Can Get Rid of PCOS
Unfortunately, there is no cure for PCOS, but overweight and obese women can help balance their hormone levels by losing weight. Otherwise, treatment is aimed at managing symptoms. A wide range of treatment options can help prevent any potential problems.
PCOS patients notice unexplained weight gain, especially excess fat around the shoulders, neck, and arms. This PCOS symptom is often caused by high levels of androgens coupled with insulin resistance and a reduced BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate).
In women who are predisposed to PCOS, the metabolic and hormonal issues that are present such as insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism, can lead to weight gain and eventually obesity.
PCOS leads to physiological and structural changes in the eye. Dry eye symptoms were more severe and central corneal thickness measurements were greater in patients with PCOS. Those are correlated serum testosterone and estradiol levels.
Lea Michele
The Glee star has opened up about being diagnosed with PCOS after experiencing severe acne and fluctuating weight. “The side effects [of PCOS] can be brutal — like weight gain and bad skin,” Lea shared with Health. “I went to a great doctor, and the minute she looked at me, she was like, 'Oh, you have PCOS.
Your Slow Metabolism:
When you have a slow metabolism, your body doesn't convert food into energy in sufficient quantities. So most of the food you eat is stored in the form of fats. This is the main reason why some people get fat even though they don't eat much.
Results. From preconception baseline, normal-weight women with PCOS gained 2.3 pounds more during the first trimester (95% CI, 0.3 to 4.3; P = 0.02), and by the end of the second trimester, 4.2 pounds more than controls (95% CI, 0.7 to 7.7; P = 0.02).
Medications effective for weight loss (in addition to lifestyle modifications) that have been specifically studied in women with PCOS include metformin, acarbose, sibutramine, and orlistat (Xenical). Metformin is probably the first-line medication for obesity or weight reduction in patients with PCOS.