Dear Mish Q&A

Back by popular demand is the Dear Mish section! Not only is Michelle our superstar Editor but she also has prior training in the area of health. So if you are after some healthy advice or have a concern about your body you would like addressed, then go to:


Dear Doctor


Please note: questions can not be answered personally.


Dear Confused Chick,

I feel for you and what you must be going through emotionally, but be strong and love yourself for who you are! Weight is not everything!

I am aware that obesity can be one of the symptoms of Polysystic Ovarian Syndrome, so you must try to be kind to yourself, it's possible your weight is due to this also. Sometimes the less you eat, the more weight you'll gain, so not eating very much is not always the best thing, often it can be the worst. Not eating much causes metabolism to slow; this is because your body thinks it is starving, so it starts to preserve energy by "slowing" down. Then when you do eat again, the body will tend to "grab onto" the energy and fat in the food you have consumed as it is not sure when you may eat again.

I am concerned that you may not have been given much information on the syndrome, so it is vital that you speak to your doctor about your worries and she/he should be able to help guide you toward finding some balance and some peace of mind.

I also recommend that you ask your parents or guardian to send you along to seek the advice of a dietician, as these specialists should be able to devise an eating and exercise plan for you to help you lose weight. Losing weight is often about changing your lifestyle and making decisions, so getting expert advice will be good for you. It's not just about cutting back on food intake or exercising yourself silly!

I don't believe this is something you can solve on your own, so please do get some assistance. Someone to guide you will be reassuring and helpful to you.

Have a look at this site for some more info on Polysystic Ovarian Syndrome: http://www.posaa.asn.au

Finding happiness is most important, so I wish you all the best.

Hope this helps,
Mish x