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DEL.ICIO.USMetabolic Disorders, Part 1
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You live in a society that tells you that you are supposed to be a certain weight. You have diet- takers and supplement-makers that tell you they have found the single secret to weight loss. They don’t tell you that what they offer may actually cause you to become unhealthier and cause you to gain more weight later. For them, it is in the name of profit.
However, even when you are incorporating the things you are suppose to (such as proper diet and exercise), your progress may not be as good as you may like. It is possible that you may have a metabolic disorder. Let’s discuss a couple of these disorders.
1. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)- In case you haven’t figured it out, this is a condition that only affects women. There are also some other conditions I will mention that may affect women only or more often, but let me stick to the subject.
PCOS typically occurs between the ages of 20 and 40 years of age and it is believed to affect as many as 5-10% of American women. The cause is not exactly known. How PCOS got its name is from the condition that is developed from the hormonal changes that take place in the female body, which is small, benign cysts that appear on the ovaries. The hormonal changes are an increase of male (androgenic) hormones (e.g. testosterone). As a result of the hormonal changes, other changes may take place as well. Here are a few:
*Fewer Menstrual Cycles
*Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
*Excessive or Abnormal Hair Growth
*Depression or Mood Swings
*Increased Abdominal Body Fat
The last change is the one that I want to focus on, as it relates to “losing weight.” If you have this condition, you find that is very difficult to lose weight without the right treatment. Because the symptoms are similar to Type II diabetes (PCOS can lead to diabetes), some of the same treatments are used. If you have any of the conditions mentioned, then I highly recommend seeing an endocrinologist for proper analysis. Click here to learn more- WebMD Health
2. Metabolic Syndrome- Metabolic syndrome appears in about 1 of 4 people in the U.S. It can affect men and women at all ages, ethnic backgrounds, etc. Some of the symptoms are also similar to Type II diabetes. However, to be more specific, here are some of the conditions: * High Triglycerides (> 149 mg/dL ) * Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol (men < 40 mg/dL, women < 35 mg/dL) * Low Energy * Fasting Glucose (>109 mg/dL) * Resistance to Insulin * Higher than recommended abdominal body fat Some of the treatments for Metabolic Syndrome are also the same as Type II diabetes. Once again, this disease also makes it difficult to lose weight without proper treatment. Click here learn more- Metabolic Syndrome — Topic Overview
Interestingly, these disorders are considered to be preventable. Just like Type II diabetes, if you begin a consistent diet and exercise program at an early age, you are far less likely to develop these disorder. Just as important is if you develop these disorders the best form of treatment besides using drugs is diet and exercise (go figure). Next week, we’ll discuss hypothyrodism and hormone replacement therapy.
If you’re someone who has been diagnosed with PCOS or Metabolic Syndrome, please share your experience and thoughts.
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