Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most commonly diagnosed hormonal conditions, affecting many women worldwide. Studies show that PCOS impacts 5–8% of women of reproductive age, though some sources suggest the number could be as high as 20%. PCOS not only disrupts hormonal balance but also affects various aspects of health, including nutrition. Many women with PCOS struggle with fertility challenges, weight control, metabolism issues, insulin resistance, mood disorders, and eating disorders. If you’re here, this topic might resonate with you—so keep reading!
What Are Eating Disorders?
Women diagnosed with PCOS are five times more likely to develop eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder compared to women without PCOS.
Why Does PCOS Affect Your Relationship With Food?
There are several factors that contribute to the development of eating disorders in women with PCOS:
Emotional Coping Mechanisms
How you handle your emotions plays a huge role in your relationship with food. For some, eating becomes a way to manage emotions, helping to reduce tension when you’re unable to recognize or process feelings.
Hormonal Imbalance
PCOS-related hormonal imbalances can impact appetite, metabolism, and weight control. Many women struggle with maintaining a healthy weight and often face challenges like overweight or obesity. These difficulties can lead to unhealthy eating habits such as extreme calorie restriction, binge eating, or purging after meals.
Societal Pressure and Body Image
External appearance challenges—like excess hair growth (in typically male-pattern areas such as the upper lip or chin), acne, and weight issues—can negatively affect self-esteem. Feeling unattractive or obsessively focusing on your appearance can lower your self-worth and increase stress, which in turn can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors.
The Vicious Cycle: How Eating Disorders Can Worsen PCOS
Unhealthy eating habits can further worsen insulin resistance, a common issue for women with PCOS. This can disrupt carbohydrate metabolism and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other health complications.
💡 Let Yourself Be Helped
As you can see, eating disorders combined with PCOS can create a vicious cycle—but breaking free is possible.
The first step is awareness. Recognizing the problem is already a huge achievement. Surround yourself with support and work consciously toward managing PCOS and achieving hormonal balance. Don’t hesitate to seek help—there’s no shame in reaching out for guidance and care.
I believe that with the right support and self-care, you’ll soon bring your body back into balance and feel your best again.
Take care of yourself—you deserve it!
