Women's Day 2023: To understand the reason behind PCOS, we need to understand that it is not a gynecological problem but a metabolic problem. Many types of symptoms can be seen in PCOS. These include irregular periods, infertility, excess hair on the body or face, and weight gain around the abdomen, also known as the 'PCOS belly'. The reason for these symptoms is hormonal fluctuations and insulin resistance in the body. However, some women do not gain weight despite having PCOS.
Dr. Anjali Kumar, director of obstetrics and gynecology at CK Birla Hospital (R), Gurugram, explains that PCOS is a lifestyle problem, making changes that can prevent weight gain:
1. Improve diet: Include good and healthy things in food and stay away from processed, packaged, and junk food.
2. Avoiding dairy products: According to studies, avoiding dairy products like milk, paneer, and curd can help in the management of PCOS.
3. Take a plant-based diet: To lose weight, people should follow a plant-based diet and avoid meat consumption.
4. Exercise is important: Women with PCOS have an improper proportion of body fat and muscle. Where fat is more and muscles are less. Therefore, we should focus on the development of muscles through exercise. Exercise should include not only cardio but also strength training exercises so that the muscles in the body increase.
5. Importance of stress management: When stress levels are high, a hormone called cortisol increases insulin resistance in the body. Hence, women suffering from PCOS should indulge in meditation, yoga, or activities that make them happy at heart.
6. Get enough sleep: To manage PCOS, it is necessary to have good and complete sleep. Women with PCOS have irregular or disrupted sleep patterns, which puts them at risk of weight gain. Hence, a proper sleeping pattern is essential.
