You keep cutting calories, switching to no-sugar and no-fat options, and increasing your number of steps a day — but the weight keeps piling on. If that sounds like you, it’s time to talk to your OB/GYN.
At University Reproductive Associates, with offices in Hasbrouck Heights, Wayne, and Hoboken, New Jersey, our reproductive health experts can investigate if your weight gain might be caused by something amiss with your female organs or hormones, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS.)
There are all sorts of explanations for weight gain. The most common include:
As you age, it’s easier to put weight on and more difficult to lose. If your activity levels aren’t what they used to be, it could be a simple matter of needing to trim down your diet to make calories in match calories out.
Aging can also slow your metabolism, making you burn energy at a reduced rate. That can also be caused by hormonal imbalances that affect your metabolism and make it slower.
Problems related to diabetes, such as insulin resistance, can make you put on weight and have trouble losing it. Thyroid issues can also lead to unexplainable weight gain. Treating these conditions can often help.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) happens when a female body incorrectly produces large amounts of male hormones, or androgens. That can cause weight gain along with other symptoms. If the following describes you, your weight gain could be attributable to PCOS.
PCOS often causes hirsutism (extra hair growing in unusual places for a female body) or thinning of the hair all over the body as well as on the scalp, particularly at the temples.
PCOS can also cause the return or worsening of adult acne, often after years of no acne at all. Additionally, many people with PCOS notice darkening of the skin in areas of skin creases, including around the neck, underarms, breasts, and groin.
If you are overweight and have PCOS, a combination of diet and exercise matched with hormone-balancing treatment may be the best path forward. Our team will work with you to create a customized plan that takes your whole body health into account.
To learn more about PCOS and its effect on your weight, schedule an appointment with the experts at URA. You can get in touch by calling the location closest to you or asking for a telemedicine consultation.
