When you have a PCOS belly, you can get stuck in a bit of a vicious circle. 

This is because insulin resistance, elevated androgens and excess inflammation can all contribute to PCOS - but having a PCOS belly can make these issues worse too.

Having excess abdominal fat can create more pro-inflammatory chemicals which can have a negative effect on all areas of your health, including your PCOS severity.

And too much belly fat can also lead you to have increased levels of testosterone which may worsen skin issues and excess hair growth.

Being overweight - including having excess belly fat can also promote insulin resistance too - so you can see just how harmful a PCOS belly can be for your overall health.

Aside from PCOS - having visceral fat around your middle can also put you at increased risk of heart disease and certain cancers - so it’s certainly something to address through lifestyle and supplements.

It can be psychologically challenging to deal with a PCOS belly too.

 This is because it can affect your self esteem and confidence. 

It may make you worry about how you look and you may find it hard to find clothes you feel yourself in.

For some women - having a PCOS belly can be a constant reminder of a condition they have to deal with every day.

For others - a PCOS belly may have been mistaken for a pregnant belly which can be hard to deal with if you have been experiencing fertility troubles.

• Measuring your waist to hip ratio. This is because a waist-to-hip ratio of >0.87 may suggest you have PCOS, especially if you have a number of other key symptoms.
  
  
• Analysis of your menstrual cycle - this will help to establish if you suffer from irregular periods, or if you miss ovulation regularly. These symptoms may suggest the presence of PCOS.
  
  
• Your doctor may also ask if your mother or sister have PCOS as this can make it more likely that your symptoms are caused by this.
  
  
• A blood test to determine if you have elevated androgen levels
  
  
• A pelvic ultrasound to diagnose polycystic ovaries.
  
  Once it has been established that you do have PCOS, then you can be more confident that your belly is the result of this condition.

When it comes to managing PCOS through supplements we ideally want to target the main factors which drive PCOS.

So this means adding in things such as Zinc, which really helps to lower levels of excess androgen and may help you to increase your insulin sensitivity.

Other key ingredients include Green tea and Saw palmetto are ideal too - this is because they may block excess testosterone, support healthy androgen levels and reduce hair thinning.

We have combined all these key ingredients and more in our popular androgen blocker product. 

Exercise is a really important tool in your PCOS management kit. 

This is because exercise can help you to balance your hormones.

 We know that excess androgen levels can fuel PCOS, so anything that keeps androgen levels in checks is to be prioritized.

In particular, studies have shown that strength or resistance based training can help to lower circulating androgen levels which can in turn help you with PCOS symptoms including PCOS belly.

Similarly, exercise can help to increase insulin sensitivity which is another key aspect of PCOS treatment.

And of course exercise can help to support your mental wellbeing too, and help you to feel more positive as you treat your PCOS symptoms.

Aside from exercise, focusing on your stress reduction strategies can really help too.

This is because excess stress can promote inflammation which in turn may increase your risk of developing a PCOS belly.

And reducing stress can help you to sleep better too which can help to increase your insulin sensitivity as well as making you less likely to consume too many highly palatable and high calorie foods.

So practicing yoga, spending time with friends and family, and making time for a warm bath or reading a favorite book are all just as important as any other PCOS management tool.