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What three syndromes could be the culprits of being overweight?
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Polycystic ovary syndrome, fibromyalgia and syndrome X can be the causes of excess weight in women and even teenage girls. Why does this happen and what measures can be taken to treat it?
What is polycystic ovary syndrome?
This is a failure in the endocrine system, which leads to disturbances in the body of up to 6% of women with irregular periods. And this number includes teenage girls. It is noteworthy that with a disorder of the endocrine organs, metabolism is disrupted, and a woman or even a girl of 14-16 years old can gain a lot of weight.
The extra kilos are added quickly, sometimes the weight just goes off the charts and nothing can be done about it – neither diets nor exercises. To normalize the weight, you need to, first of all, eliminate the cause – polycystic ovary syndrome.
Symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- High blood pressure
- Hormonal tests show elevated androgen levels
- Insulin intolerance
- Allergic reaction to glucose
- Cardiovascular disease (malfunctions of the heart and blood vessels, including heart attack). Note: a woman over 40 with polycystic ovary syndrome may have a heart attack 4 times more often than patients of the same age without polycystic disease.
- Diabetes mellitus
- Changes in figure (it quickly takes on the shape of an apple - an enlarged belly, chest and hips; or a pear - a significantly plumper lower part).
- Irritability, sudden mood swings from hysteria to complete apathy. There is a danger that the woman is considered mentally unstable, without linking her condition with polycystic ovary syndrome. And the doctor prescribes her sedatives and psychotropic drugs, which only worsen the course of polycystic disease.
- To avoid exacerbation of polycystic disease and associated changes in weight, you need to be examined by a gynecologist and endocrinologist in a timely manner.
Syndrome X and excess weight
Syndrome X is a malfunction of the endocrine system and, as a consequence, a slowdown in metabolism. As a result, excess weight appears. Most of all, this disease - syndrome X - is characteristic of women with menstrual cycle disorders. This is a dangerous disease that can provoke a heart attack even in women under 30.
How to identify syndrome X
- Sudden weight gain
- Insulin intolerance
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Excessive hair growth on the face and body
- Periods fluctuate - sometimes heavy, sometimes scanty, and always at the wrong time
What is characteristic, syndrome X can threaten the life of patients due to the increased risk of heart attack. Many doctors make the mistake of thinking that syndrome X can only occur in women who are close to menopause or are in the menopause period.
In fact, syndrome X can affect young women even several years before menopause, causing irreversible changes in the body, including unwanted obesity. Therefore, it is imperative to pay attention to the above symptoms in order to prevent danger.
How to detect fibromyalgia?
- Muscle pain in all parts of the body - localized
- Weakness
- Increased fatigue
- Drowsiness alternating with insomnia
- Low performance
Fibromyalgia is the culprit of muscle pain and weight gain, mainly in women over 40. Why?
Fibromyalgia (or chronic pain syndrome) and excess weight
What is fibromyalgia? It is chronic muscle pain throughout the body. Doctors call fibromyalgia a chronic pain syndrome. This syndrome can be a serious cause of excess weight, as are the first two - syndrome X and polycystic ovary syndrome.
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How is pain syndrome related to extra pounds?
Answer the question: when something hurts, do you go out to play badminton? Or go for a morning jog? Exactly! Pain syndrome does not allow a woman to do sports, weakens the body, plus provokes constant medication intake. This makes muscles weak and flabby, and fat deposits quickly accumulate.
In addition, hormonal imbalance also contributes to excess weight: the level of cortisol (stress hormone) increases, and this slows down the metabolism even more and provokes fat accumulation. In turn, excess cortisol in the blood causes insulin resistance. This means that the level of sugar in the blood increases, fat deposits accumulate, and the kilograms come on.
If you have symptoms that indicate poor health and weight gain, immediately consult a doctor for examination and hormonal tests. Be healthy and happy!