20 February 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Calorie-deficit diets, often promoted as the fastest route to weight loss, may do more harm than good for women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), according to nutrition experts. A leading nutritionist has cautioned women with the hormonal condition to reconsider restrictive dieting, warning that cutting calories aggressively can backfire and worsen symptoms.
PCOS affects millions of women globally and is linked to hormonal imbalance, irregular periods, insulin resistance, weight gain, and fertility challenges. While weight management is often advised as part of PCOS care, experts say the approach matters far more than the number on the scale.
Why Calorie Deficit Diets Are Popular
Calorie-deficit diets work on a simple principle: consume fewer calories than the body burns. For many people, this can lead to short-term weight loss. However, PCOS is not a typical weight-loss scenario. It is a complex endocrine condition where hormones, metabolism, and insulin sensitivity play a central role.
According to nutritionists, applying generic dieting rules to PCOS ignores the condition’s underlying biology.
The Hormonal Problem With Dieting
One of the biggest issues with calorie restriction in PCOS is its impact on stress hormones. When the body senses prolonged under-eating, it perceives it as a threat and releases higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Elevated cortisol can worsen insulin resistance, a key driver of PCOS symptoms.
Insulin resistance makes it harder for the body to use glucose efficiently, encouraging fat storage—especially around the abdomen—even when calorie intake is low. This explains why many women with PCOS report dieting strictly but seeing little or no weight loss.
Metabolism Slows Down
Another major concern is metabolic adaptation. When calories are consistently restricted, the body adapts by slowing down metabolism to conserve energy. For women with PCOS, whose metabolism may already be compromised, this slowdown can be more pronounced.
Nutritionists warn that this can trap women in a cycle of eating less, feeling exhausted, and still gaining or maintaining weight. Over time, metabolic slowdown can make sustainable weight management even more difficult.
Impact on Reproductive Hormones
Calorie-deficit diets can also disrupt reproductive hormones. Extremely low energy intake may reduce levels of hormones necessary for ovulation and menstrual regularity. Many women with PCOS already struggle with irregular periods, and restrictive dieting can worsen cycle irregularities or even cause periods to stop altogether.
Experts emphasize that PCOS management should support hormonal balance—not create additional stress on the endocrine system.
Mental Health and Relationship With Food
Beyond physical effects, nutritionists highlight the psychological toll of chronic dieting. Women with PCOS often face social pressure to lose weight, leading to repeated cycles of restriction and failure. This can contribute to anxiety, guilt around food, binge eating, and low self-esteem.
“Please stop dieting if you have PCOS,” the nutritionist urged, stressing that healing the metabolism and hormones must come before aggressive weight loss goals.
What Works Better Than Dieting
Instead of calorie deficits, experts recommend a nourishment-focused approach:
- Balanced meals with adequate protein, healthy fats, and fiber to stabilize blood sugar
- Regular eating patterns to reduce stress hormone spikes
- Strength training and low-impact movement to improve insulin sensitivity
- Adequate sleep and stress management, both crucial for hormonal regulation
Rather than eating less, the goal is to eat smarter—supporting the body instead of fighting it.
Weight Loss Is Not the Only Goal
Nutritionists also stress that symptom improvement should matter more than weight loss alone. Many women experience better energy, improved cycles, reduced acne, and better blood sugar control even without dramatic changes on the scale.
“PCOS is not a willpower issue,” experts say. “It’s a metabolic and hormonal condition that needs care, not punishment.”
A Shift in PCOS Awareness
The growing awareness around PCOS-friendly nutrition is changing how the condition is managed. Health professionals increasingly advocate individualized plans that prioritize hormonal health, sustainability, and mental well-being.
While calorie-deficit diets may work for some people, experts agree they are often unsuitable—and even harmful—for women with PCOS. The message is clear: long-term healing requires nourishment, patience, and a shift away from restrictive dieting culture.
Summary
Nutritionists warn calorie-deficit diets can worsen PCOS by increasing stress hormones, slowing metabolism, and disrupting cycles, urging women to stop restrictive dieting and focus on balanced nutrition instead.