You may be mystified if you’re a woman of childbearing age and experiencing unpleasant symptoms like period irregularities, acne, thinning hair, skin issues, and more body hair. You might also feel an abdominal heaviness in the area of your ovaries.

These are all symptoms of a hormonal disorder known as polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. Symptoms can start in adolescence or when a woman is an adult. One of the conditions that has definitely been linked to PCOS is obesity. If you’re living with obesity and suffering these symptoms, weight loss can make a life-changing difference.

Fortunately, our specialists at Regenerative Health & Wellness Medical Center offer medically supervised weight loss treatment, among other innovative services. Dr. Jacob Holdren, Dr. Steven Foley, and our talented team don’t just offer evidence-based weight loss treatment, we support you on your journey, which is pivotal to your success.

Facts about polycystic ovary syndrome

We mentioned the symptoms of PCOS previously, but the hormonal imbalance associated with the condition is having a surplus of the male hormone androgen. This is what causes increased hair growth, unusually light or heavy periods, and something you may be less aware of: areas containing fluid on your ovaries develop, which leads to your ovaries releasing eggs irregularly.

It’s important to get evaluated and treated for PCOS if you notice these symptoms, because the condition puts you at higher risk for developing more significant health conditions, such as:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Uterine cancer
• High blood pressure
• Fertility
• Heart problems

Since these are all health problems you want to avoid, seeking medical treatment for PCOS, early on, is the smartest thing you can do. Unfortunately, little is known about what may cause PCOS, but it’s thought that there’s a genetic component to developing it, as well as the androgen connection.

The thing we’re most certain about though, is the relationship between weight gain and PCOS.

The association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and weight gain

We know that excess pounds and living with a high body mass index (BMI) — when your weight to height ratio is out of balance — isn’t good for you on many levels. Being overweight is associated with everything from heart disease to stroke.

It’s worrisome that those diagnosed with PCOS and accompanying weight gain are more like suffer with:

• Sleep apnea, putting you at higher risk for heart problems, hypertension, and diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Infertility
• High insulin levels
• More fat distribution in the abdomen, which has negative health implications

We’ve spelled out the problems that accompany PCOS and weight gain, but how do you finally shed the weight, which has been shown to reduce your PCOS symptoms significantly?

Weight loss that works for PCOS

Regenerative Health & Wellness Medical Center provides you with an approach to weight loss that’s healthy, achievable, and sustainable. If your extra weight is PCOS-related, it’s time to rid yourself of it, improve your overall health, and reduce or eliminate your PCOS symptoms.

We approach weight loss holistically, meaning that we don’t prescribe a limited or specific diet that’s either unbearably impractical or impossible to maintain with a busy lifestyle. We tailor your weight loss plan as closely as we can to you: your health profile, your metabolism, your preferences, and your schedule.

We talk to you about lifestyle changes that support weight loss. You can make these fairly simple shifts, like upping your exercise, eating whole foods as opposed to heavily processed ones, addressing your stress with tools like meditation, and really learning about what a nutritious diet looks like for you.

We even offer natural supplements and safe prescription medications to boost weight loss. The human touch aspect of our program includes time with a nutritional counselor who supplies you with real-life, practical weight loss solutions, and strategies that ensure you keep it off.

Fortunately, your weight is a factor that you can control, unlike genetics. When you visit us, Dr. Foley speaks with you at length about your PCOS symptoms, your family and personal health history, and how your condition is affecting you. He also typically orders blood tests that can reveal whether there are any barriers you’re not aware of to losing weight.

We also have the capability to discover whether your weight gain is affected by other hormonal imbalances or a thyroid condition.

The fact that nearly one-third of our population is overweight is alarming. With medical weight loss, you can  rid yourself of the weight that exacerbates your condition. Taking charge of your health means that your periods can normalize, you can have a chance for motherhood, and your skin and body hair problems evaporate.

Call the Regenerative Health & Wellness Medical Center most convenient to you today, and schedule a consultation with Dr. Foley, or reach out to us on our website.