Insulin resistance means the body's cells respond less effectively to insulin than they should. The pancreas compensates by producing more insulin, and this chronically elevated insulin level has a direct effect on fat storage.
In PCOS, elevated insulin actively promotes fat storage, particularly around the abdomen, and inhibits the body's ability to break down and release stored fat. This is why many women with PCOS find that they gain weight more easily than others and struggle to lose it even when eating less. Standard calorie-reduction advice does not adequately address this because it does not target the insulin environment that is driving the problem. The weight gain is not a failure of willpower. It is a metabolic consequence of insulin resistance that requires a different dietary and treatment approach to manage effectively.
Written by Dr Vineetha Kiran, MBBS, MS (Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gold Medalist, KMC Mangalore University), Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Kiran Speciality Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka.
