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PCOS and Lean Women: Are you confused?

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Lean Woman with PCOSAre you confused about your diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome because you are lean? A common misconception is that everyone with PCOS is overweight, but this is not always the case. In fact, up to half of women diagnosed with this condition are of normal weight; some are even underweight.

Many individuals think that menopausal symptoms are caused solely by the drop in estrogen, when in fact, they are the result of a complex, unbalanced condition of these hormones relative to each other.

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Insulin Resistance

While Insulin Resistance is generally thought to be an underlying cause of PCOS, there is disagreement in the medical community about whether thin women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome suffer from the same degree of Insulin Resistance as their heavier counterparts.

It's important to understand that the array of PCOS symptoms like irregular, painful periods, infertility, elevated testosterone levels and Insulin Resistance among others, can be highly individualized. Even in cases where insulin levels are normal, a woman's ovaries can still be stimulated by hormonal sensitivities to over-produce testosterone.

Weight Concern Polycystic Ovarian SyndromeStudies have shown that insulin resistance can be present in both lean and obese women with PCOS, indicating to researchers that there may be other factors affecting the imbalance in the insulin/glucose mechanism. And although doctors might not want to use the term "Insulin Resistance" because of the absence of obesity, nonetheless, thin women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome have higher insulin levels in their blood than those without PCOS, as pointed out by a 2004 article, "Insulin Sensitivity in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (1).

To further complicate the matter, oral contraceptives are commonly prescribed to women with PCOS, regardless of their weight, a practice that can raise the risk of weight gain. Increased weight has been positively linked to an increased risk for Insulin Resistance and many of the other problems associated with glucose and insulin metabolism such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Similar Health Risks

Research weight and pcodIt is very clear to experts that Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome symptoms in lean women present the same increased health risks. In a comparable study published in The Endocrinology Journal in October, 2004 (2), researchers found that a group of lean women with PCOS showed an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and infertility when compared to a matched, control group of healthy women without the disorder.

It appears that women with "lean PCOS" have much in common with their heavier counterparts. They both exhibit, in varying degrees, the symptoms of elevated testosterone, and Insulin Resistance and excess insulin levels in their blood. This was Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Exerciseconfirmed in a study reported in a 2005 issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (3), concluding that these women may be just as at-risk for cardiovascular disease as heavier women.

Fortunately, the symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome can be better managed in both lean and heavy women. Healthy whole foods and a tailored system of supplements and physical activity can help women with PCOS and can be a doorway to a better life for women of all sizes with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

You may be interested in some of our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on PCOS and the Insulite PCOS System.

Click here to read about Metformin and PCOS

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BG
Plymouth, MI
"I have been on the Insulite PCOS System for two months and I have noticed some very welcome changes!

I am getting better quality sleep, I do not wake and toss and turn and have disturbing [more]

Linda Anderson
Houston, TX
"Thank you for being so informative. I'm always amazed about the little known facts you make available. I'm doing my best to lose weight and live a healthier life." [more]

JM
West Hartford, CT
"I have been on the Insulite PCOS System for six or so weeks and have noticed a considerable decrease in food cravings; I have lost 15 pounds; I am having fewer migraines; and I have better control o [more]

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Disclaimer

The Insulite Systems are not intended to be medical treatment, nor is information on this website intended to be a substitute for the advice or care of a health-care practitioner. Each Insulite System is a combination of nutritional supplement programs and lifestyle programs intended to help individuals better manage their health and wellbeing. Consult a health-care practitioner before beginning an Insulite System. Because of ongoing research, clinical experience, and the rapid accumulation of information relating to the subject matter discussed on this website, the website's users are advised to carefully review and evaluate the information on this website and continue to expand and broaden their knowledge of new information as it becomes available on this website and elsewhere. The use or application of the information contained on this website is at the sole discretion and risk of the user.



Written by: This website has been written by the research team at Insulite Health, a division of Insulite Laboratories. The members of the Insulite Health research team are experts in dealing with issues related to Insulin Resistance. Click here to learn more about the research team at Insulite Health.


Published by: This website is published by Insulite Laboratories. For more than a decade, Insulite Laboratories has been an authority on health conditions relating to Insulin Resistance, including PCOS. Find us on Google+