The cause of weight gain is ‘this disease?’… Lost 27kg and got better from disease, the secret to losing weight is revealed

A woman who weighed 87 kg as of July last year lost about 27 kg in just one year. The woman is drawing attention by saying that the cause of her weight gain was ‘polycystic ovary syndrome’ and that her related symptoms improved after dieting.

Recently, the British media outlet Mirror reported the story of Dils Lee (28), who lost about 27 kg in a year. Saying, “I’ve always been big since I was young,” he had struggled with weight issues for a long time. He said that even though he ate the same food as his friends and family, he was the only one who gained weight. In addition to weight gain, Dils also suffered from irregular menstrual cycles, acne, and back and joint pain.

“I suspected it was a hormonal problem and went to the hospital, but every time I was told, ‘If you lose weight, your overall health will improve,’” Dills said. A few years later, Dills was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and learned that her weight gain wasn’t just due to lack of exercise and poor eating habits. “Because you have to meet the criteria to be diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, my diagnosis was delayed, but I was finally diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome at age 25,” she said.

After her diagnosis, Dills, who had not taken special care of her health, gained weight steadily. She reached her highest weight of 87kg in July of last year. Eventually, Dills started a diet to reduce the discomfort caused by weight loss and manage the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome. She lost about 17kg through a calorie-restricted diet and high-intensity interval training.

Even after exercising, the syndrome symptoms remain… Manage again with aerobic and anaerobic exercise and a low-carbohydrate diet

But when she reached a plateau, she found it difficult to lose any more weight. When her PCOS symptoms, such as fatigue and swelling, didn’t improve, Dills sought help from a hormone health and fitness specialist. Instead of high-intensity interval training, Dills walked 12,000 steps a day and did strength training three times a week. She also changed her diet. To manage her insulin resistance, she cut out all processed foods and focused on a low-carb diet.

“By changing my diet and doing strength training, my PCOS symptoms almost completely disappeared in 12 to 16 weeks,” Dills said. “After about three months, my cycles, which used to be more than 50 days, were down to 28 to 35 days.” “After six months, I lost a lot of weight and my appearance changed dramatically,” she added. “I feel mentally clearer as well as physically healthier.”

Dills advises women who are struggling with weight gain because they suspect they have PCOS that “there is no quick fix, but there are solutions.” She also advises seeking professional help if necessary. “You can get help from a nutritionist or trainer to help you with your exercise or diet plan,” she says. “I’ve learned how to take care of my body and my health, so I’m going to continue to do this.”

Polycystic ovary syndrome, which causes irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, etc., can also cause obesity

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an endocrine disease that occurs in 5-10% of women of childbearing age. It is a condition in which ovarian follicles are observed in the ovaries more than 12 times or the ovaries are enlarged to more than 10 cm in volume due to ovulation disorders. Common symptoms include irregular menstrual cycles, anovulation, infertility, irregular bleeding, and miscarriage.

Menstrual cycles are unusual, such as less than 21 days or more than 35 days, and sometimes occur once every 2-3 months. The cause is not clear, but it is known that various factors, such as increased luteinizing hormone in the pituitary gland and decreased secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone, are involved.

Due to insulin resistance, glucose is easily converted to fat… Management is necessary with low glycemic index foods

As in the story above, the cause of easy weight gain may be polycystic ovary syndrome. This is because insulin resistance increases the risk of obesity. Insulin resistance means that the blood sugar response to insulin is lower than normal. As a result, insulin, which regulates blood glucose concentration, does not function properly, increasing the incidence of diabetes and increasing the rate at which glucose is converted to fat. Like the woman in the story, even if she eats the same as others, she easily gains weight.

Therefore, if you are suffering from obesity due to polycystic ovary syndrome, it is important to treat hormonal imbalance first rather than just exercising. Eating habits that reduce insulin resistance should also be established. The low-carb diet practiced by the woman in the story helps improve insulin resistance. Foods composed of complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, and sweet potatoes have low glycemic indexes and can be used in a low-carb diet.

The number of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome is steadily increasing in Korea. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, the number of patients who visited hospitals with polycystic ovary syndrome increased by about 56% over the past five years, from 41,480 in 2017 to 62,653 in 2021. Of these, 54% were in their 20s, 33.2% were in their 30s, and 8.4% were in their teens. There is no fundamental cure for polycystic ovary syndrome, but the earlier it is managed, the better the prognosis. If symptoms such as abnormal menstrual cycles, excessive body hair, and acne appear, polycystic ovary syndrome may be suspected.