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food & health<br />
“Women with PCOS don’t burn<br />
off as much weight, even when<br />
they’re eating exactly the same<br />
amount of food compared to<br />
weight match controls,” explains<br />
Professor Colin Duncan of the<br />
University of Edinburgh.<br />
Remember though, your value<br />
is not determined by a number<br />
on a scale.<br />
PCOS symptoms may<br />
not disappear with the<br />
menopause<br />
PCOS is usually diagnosed in<br />
premenopausal women, but<br />
just because you stop having<br />
periods doesn’t necessarily mean<br />
your PCOS will stop. For those<br />
embarking on the menopause, it<br />
also brings additional challenges<br />
as symptoms can be similar.<br />
Whether you’re looking to<br />
regulate periods, or are trying to<br />
start a family, be sure to speak to<br />
your GP for support and advice on<br />
managing PCOS.<br />
A low-carbohydrate<br />
diet might help<br />
Given what we know about the<br />
role of insulin in PCOS there are<br />
studies that show following a lowcarbohydrate<br />
diet may help with<br />
this. But why?<br />
“Reducing refined carbs can<br />
help manage blood sugar, and also<br />
help with weight loss. Replacing<br />
refined carbohydrates with lower<br />
GI, high fibre options can slow<br />
down digestion and the release<br />
of glucose into the bloodstream,”<br />
says nutritionist Michele Scarr.<br />
PCOS can cause<br />
weight gain<br />
When insulin resistance occurs,<br />
the body produces higher<br />
levels than normal. This causes<br />
ovaries to produce too much<br />
testosterone, which can impact<br />
or prevent ovulation. This cycle<br />
happens to women with PCOS,<br />
and the extra insulin in the body<br />
can lead to weight gain, with<br />
studies showing that between<br />
40–80% of women with PCOS are<br />
‘overweight’. But, it’s important<br />
not to feel at blame for this.<br />
Jenna Farmer is a freelance<br />
journalist who specialises in<br />
writing about gut health. She has<br />
Crohn’s disease and blogs about her<br />
journey to improve gut health at<br />
abalancedbelly.co.uk<br />
Michele Scarr is a nutritional<br />
therapist and health coach. Find out<br />
more about PCOS support, and get<br />
in touch with Michele via<br />
nutritionist-resource.org.uk<br />
<strong>happiful</strong>.com | September <strong>2021</strong> | 77