As we know PCOS symptoms are devastating, especially the ones that affect our look like PCOS belly. So, What does a PCOS belly look like, and how to lose a PCOS belly?
Here we are going to answer all these questions and more, so continue reading.
On PCOS, women may experience irregularity or absence of menstruation, menorrhagia, increased hair growth throughout the body, acne, black spines, pelvic pain, infertility, and may be accompanied by other diseases such as type II diabetes, heart disease, mood disorders, and uterine cancer.
As we explained before, PCOS is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
So, obesity is a risk factor, as well as a sedentary lifestyle and having similar conditions in the family.
PCOS has no specific treatment, however, treatment is based on lifestyle changes, weight loss, exercise, and birth control pills that can help regulate the menstrual cycle and overcome hirsutism and acne.
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How to lose a PCOS belly?
Although there is no direct relationship between obesity and polycystic ovaries, however, insulin resistance can be the link between the two.
Obesity contributes to increased insulin resistance and therefore insulin resistance contributes to increased androgen levels, increasing polycystic symptoms.
Doctors often recommend losing up to 5% of your current weight to relieve symptoms and regulate your menstrual cycle.
There is no cure for PCOS, but there are things you and your doctor can do to reduce its effect:
Make the right food choices
Your health depends mainly on what you eat. As some say “you are what you eat”. So, making the right food choices that fulfill all your body’s needs will balance your hormones. Aim to eat whole food as if you are following a Paleo or Mediterranean diet, and keep away from processed foods.
Stick to the ideal weight
Maintain weight if you are overweight, combining diet and exercise to lose at least 5% to 10% of your body weight can help lower blood cholesterol and reduce the risk of prediabetic symptoms and possible infertility. Check out your BMI to know whether you are underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.
Fill your plate with vegetables
Vegetables and fruits are no doubt rich sources of all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Increasing your daily servings will help nourish your body.
Avoid all unhealthy food choices
There is a wide range of unhealthy food choices that you have to keep away from including alcohol, processed food, and refined foods.
Improve your sleeping habits
Set a bedtime and a wake-up time that works for you. Make sure you get 7-8 hours of good sleep every night.
This is a make-or-break situation. 1 hour before night, avoid using technology and do something to help you relax and prepare for bed, such as meditation or a hot bath. This will also increase the quality of your sleep, allowing you to wake up feeling rejuvenated.
Exercise frequently
Exercise 50-60 minutes per day, 5-6 times per week When dealing with PCOS symptoms, light to moderate exercise is ideal. If your period is missing, you should avoid strenuous or rigorous activity since it might put your body under more stress, further inhibiting your menstrual cycle. Strength, mobility, and circuit training are the main goals. Moderately strenuous weight training, Pilates, Yoga, swimming, and walking are all excellent ways to stay in shape in this area.
What does a PCOS belly look like?
PCOS belly shape may appear like a distended abdomen, as it is one of the changes that you will notice when you have an ovarian cyst or swelling of the abdomen.
PCOS belly shape is more prominent when gaining weight, also, you may experience abdominal pain and bloating.
Indigestion and bloating after eating contribute to a bigger belly, women with polycystic ovaries may feel pressure on the stomach and they may experience some problems related to indigestion.
PCOS belly fat metformin effect
Metformin is a drug intended to control blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, and because it is one of the drugs prescribed to patients to use in the long term, many people wonder about the benefits of metformin and its harmful or side effects on the health of the patient.
It is available as oral pills to help regulate blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, but medically, the use of this drug should be accompanied by a healthy diet with a little exercise to maintain the best blood sugar levels.
Metformin and anti-androgens can treat some PCOS symptoms.
In addition, other techniques can be used to treat excess hair and acne, also, clomiphene is used to improve fertility.
Benefits of metformin:
The benefits of the drug metformin for the body include:
- Lowering blood sugar levels.
- Improve the body’s insulin response.
- It reduces the risk of blood clots, strokes, and overall cardiovascular diseases, due to its ability to lower the level of harmful cholesterol in the body, as well as the level of lipids in the blood.
- Reduces the risk of gestational diabetes, so it is safe for pregnant women and protects them from diabetes during pregnancy if they are vulnerable to it.
- Helps to reduce weight, and also acts as a prophylaxis for people prone to diabetes.
- Plays a key role in cancer prevention according to scientific studies in humans, where it has been shown to affect reducing the growth of cancer cells in the breast, colon, lung, pancreas, and prostate.
- It has a positive effect on bone cells and improves bone density.
- It is considered a safe drug with minor side effects.
Benefits of metformin for PCOS
Metformin includes many benefits for women with PCOS, a disease associated with insulin resistance in the body:
- Reduces insulin resistance in women with ovarian cysts by improving their insulin sensitivity.
- Improves blood sugar levels in PCOS patients by reducing glucose absorption in the body.
- Reduces the risk of heart disease and clots due to a reduction in fat and cholesterol in the blood.
- Treats infertility and pregnancy problems associated with polycystic ovaries.
Metformin’s possible side effects
Some side effects affect some people when taking their altitude medication:
- Diarrhea or constipation.
- Headache
- A surge of appetite.
- Pain and spasms in the muscles.
- Cough.
- Pain in the lower back.
- Uncomfortable feeling in the abdomen.
- Vomiting or nausea.
- Heartburn.