Does PCOS Affect Your Body Weight?

People usually relate Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to irregular menstrual periods, acne problems and unwanted facial hair growth. But there’s another big issue that around  38 to 88% of women with PCOS struggle with… It’s the weight gain.

It’s not completely clear if PCOS directly causes weight gain, but the link between these two conditions is undeniable.

That’s why support matters. Not just from doctors, but from the right food, the right lifestyle, and yes, even the right herbs like those present in Krishna’s She Care Juice. To understand how you can use them to lose weight, let’s first understand how PCOS affects your body weight.

PCOS And Body Weight Link

This reproductive disorder makes your body’s hormones out of balance, including insulin. The hormone that helps in moving glucose/sugar from your blood into your cells, where it is used as energy or the fuel for your body. The condition affects your body’s secretion of insulin as well as how it works.

When this happens, your cells become resistant to insulin signals, and your pancreas starts producing more insulin in an attempt to maintain a normal blood sugar level. This is called insulin resistance.

Too much insulin in your body affects your ovaries and adrenal glands, which leads to an increase in male hormones called androgens. The hormone responsible for PCOS symptoms like body hair growth, acne, irregular periods and weight gain. Since this weight gain is linked to male hormones, it usually shows up around your belly area. That’s why many women with PCOS tend to have more of an apple-shaped body, rather than a pear shape.

Other ways high insulin levels lead to weight gain in PCOS

When your insulin levels remain high for a long time, they begin to affect more than just your blood sugar. It impacts how your body stores fat, how you feel hungry, and even how your metabolism works.

1. Increases Fat Storage

Insulin’s primary function is to remove sugar from your bloodstream and transfer it to your cells. However, high levels of insulin tell your body that there is already a lot of sugar around. So, rather than burning it, your body begins to store the excess glucose as fat, primarily around your tummy area.

2. Makes You Feel Hungrier

Insulin is also an appetite-stimulating hormone, which means when it’s high, your brain gets a signal that “You are hungry and you need to eat”.

This makes you feel hungrier even though you just had a full meal.  The cravings become so strong that sometimes it feels like you have no control. And if these cravings aren’t managed, no matter how much you try, you end up eating more calories, and your weight starts to increase.

3. Slows Down Fat Burning

When insulin is high, your body prefers to burn sugar for energy rather than fat. So, even when you’re exercising, your body holds on to fat and burns the quick sugar instead. That’s why fat loss is slower, especially in PCOS. It’s not that your efforts don’t count; it’s just that your body is stuck in “fat-storing mode” instead of “fat-burning mode.”

Ways to Lose Weight with PCOS

The more weight you gain, the more symptoms you have with PCOS.

So, losing weight not only reduces your risk for chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and infertility but also can bring your periods back to normal and relieve other symptoms of PCOS.

Watch What You Eat

Believe it or not, your diet is the biggest key

The real secret to weight loss lies in your diet. No matter how much you exercise or change your lifestyle, losing weight without eating right is very difficult, especially in the case of PCOS.

Now, the problem is with PCOS, when your insulin and hormones are a bit out of balance, your body processes sugar differently. If you eat foods that increase insulin even more, weight starts to increase on its own.

So, what should you do with your diet?

Balanced Eating Is Important: This means your plate should have protein, fibre, and healthy fats. Protein keeps you full for longer, fibre improves digestion, and fats support your hormones.

Eat a Low Sugar Diet: High sugar or processed foods cause insulin spikes, meaning insulin will increase suddenly, which promotes weight gain. So, it’s better to reduce chocolates, cold drinks, fried snacks, and similar items.

Eat Small, Frequent Meals: Managing hunger pangs can be really difficult in PCOS, so instead of 3 big meals, take 5-6 small, balanced meals during the day.

Never Skip Drinking Water: Don’t forget to drink water! Sometimes you don’t feel hungry; your body just needs water.

Follow a diet that is simple and sustainable for you. Any fad diet or quick-result plan can worsen your hormones. So, try to make your food a part of your lifestyle, so your body gradually balances itself and your weight stays under control.

Start Regular Exercise

In PCOS, when metabolism slows down, gaining weight becomes easy, and losing it becomes just as tough. Exercise can be of great help here. It not only helps in weight loss, but also helps balance your hormones.

Studies have shown that if you exercise regularly, like brisk walking, cycling, swimming (aerobic activities), along with some strength training, it brings many benefits:

• Your insulin sensitivity improves.
• The menstrual cycle becomes a bit more regular.
• Male hormones (like androgens) are reduced
• Your body composition improves, fat goes down and lean muscle increases, which makes your metabolism even stronger.

Start slow, but stay consistent. Slowly, you’ll notice that not just your body, but even your mood and energy feel better.

Take Ayurvedic Support

To heal your body, you don’t need only medicines, Mother Nature has also given us so much. Ayurveda believes in the same thing. The right combination of herbs and natural ingredients can balance your body from within.

These herbs come from nature, so they are chemical-free and have a much lower risk of side effects. Plus, when you’re already following a good diet and exercise routine, adding an Ayurvedic remedy can help speed up your progress.

Like Krishna’s She Care Juice, it has all those ingredients that help balance hormones, improve digestion, boost metabolism, and even support skin and hair health. It gives holistic support, which is very helpful in a condition like PCOS.

Learn more about Nourishing Wellness: A Deep Dive into the Impact She Care Juice Has on Women’s Hormonal Balance

Make Changes To Your Lifestyle

To help with weight loss, you also need to make some healthy lifestyle changes. Because if you look closely, PCOS isn’t just a hormonal or physical issue, it’s a condition deeply connected to your entire lifestyle. So even if you’re already following a good diet and exercise routine, paying attention to lifestyle changes is equally important. You need to give your body a supportive, hormone-friendly environment where it can heal, recover, and function smoothly.

• Try to reduce your stress and indulge in activities like yoga, morning walk, and others, which can help.
• Fix your sleep routine as well. Disturbed sleep, aka sleep apnea, is common in PCOS, and if sleep isn’t right, weight loss and hormone balance both become tough.

Takeaway!

Whether PCOS directly causes weight gain or not, one thing’s clear: losing weight can make a big difference. So, when it comes to PCOS and body weight, just popping pills won’t fix it. You have to build a lifestyle that supports your body. This means choosing the right foods, staying active, managing stress, and helping your hormones find balance.

Weight loss should not be about looking a certain way. It should be about feeling better, having regular periods, calming those cravings, and gradually regaining control of your health.