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Home › Articles › Diagnosed Infertility Issues › SOS for PCOS

SOS for PCOS

Live a Healthy Lifestyle

By Kelly Burgess

Pages:  1  2  3  

What Dr. Feinberg wants to stress is that this is not all about weight. Although the majority of women who suffer from PCOS are overweight, the cluster of symptoms can occur in normal-weight women as well. In fact, just as he coined the term "Syndrome O" to describe PCOS, he prefers "overnourished" to obese. He also notes that it's more than food. Lifestyle choices include healthy levels of exercise, reducing stress, finding balance and setting realistic goals. He calls these "Syndrome O Strategies," or SOS.

In addition to these changes, proper medical care is important. While not necessarily a cure for PCOS, the recommended lifestyle changes can maximize the chances for the success of medical fertility treatments.

Dr. Feinberg doesn't recommend a specific diet, noting that different types of diets work for different people. However, having studied each of the most popular diets, he has found some commonality that has led him to suggest the following 10 tips that work within any diet:

  • Calories in = calories out. In other words, it's not the type of diet; it's how much total food you eat that determines your weight.
  • Water is your friend. Drinking plenty of water can enhance health on many levels.
  • Sugar water is not your friend. Drinking sweetened drinks upsets your body's insulin balance.
  • Activity burns calories. Ongoing exercise will improve any diet.
  • Eat early and often. Always have breakfast; eat smaller meals more often.
  • No one is forcing you to eat. If you feel you have no control over your eating, counseling may be in order.
  • Use weight-loss medications with caution.
  • Focus on a five percent weight loss.
  • Avoid trans fats.
  • Try to recognize your body's signals that you're full.


Pages:  1  2  3  

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SOS for PCOS by Anonymous on 12/13/2009 01:21AM

I too have been diagnosed with PCOS. I too have had this condition since puberty and have never had a normal cycle. I have a child I concieved while taking chlomid after trying to start a family for over 5 years. I am not nor have I ever been over weight but I have always been told that becoming overweight is a possible result of the disease and not the cause of it. With so many people now falling into the category of overweight or obese, I think it is irresponsible to suggest that these factors alone have contributed to the rise in PCOS. I am sure that it was simply undiagnosed as woman then were not going to the gynecologist as much or seeking fertility assistance as they do today

Re: SOS for PCOS by anonymous on 05/12/2009 09:42PM

I have PCOS and I found this article hurtful and not true for many women with PCOS. When I was in a teenager and as an adult I am of normal weight, exercise daily and eat balanced meals and still have PCOS. I do have a daughter with the assistance of Metformin. I have always had irregular periods from the very start. I believe for many women this is genetic not caused by overeating. Also the picture of the heavy women eating pasta was very hateful. Get your facts strait.

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