Why junk food is fuelling PCOS in pre-teen girls, doctor reveals

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most frequent endocrine disease in pre-menopausal women, with an estimated 15–20% prevalence is seen all over the globe. It is accompanied by irregular menses, hirsutism, acne, infertility, and elevated risk of type 2 diabetes.

We spoke with Dr Archana Dhawan Bajaj, Gynaecologist and IVF Specialist at Nurture, who broke down how the rapid growth of fast food culture in India is fueling PCOS in young girls. She said that the explosion of fast-food outlets and unhealthy eating habits among teenagers is leading to the growth of hormonal imbalance and menstrual disturbances.

The bigger impact of junk food

Globally, obesity among women has climbed to 26%, and among adolescent girls, to 18%. A higher BMI is strongly linked with metabolic and gynaecological issues, including PCOS. According to Dr Bajaj, “Junk food slows down metabolism, increases unhealthy weight gain, and triggers hormonal imbalances, creating the perfect conditions for PCOS to develop.”

Junk food and menstrual health

Studies examining junk food consumption in pre-teen girls have found strong links between these diets and menstrual problems. Excessive intake of fried and processed foods lowers the body’s calorie-burning capacity, disrupts insulin sensitivity, and fuels obesity. This combination creates hormonal disturbances that directly affect menstruation and reproductive health.

Early habits with long-term consequences

Inappropriate food behaviours formed during adolescence often persist into adulthood. Dr Bajaj explained, “Obesity, endometrial defects, and hormonal imbalances make it harder for women with PCOS to conceive, and they also face higher risks of early miscarriage. The foundation for these complications often begins with poor diet choices in teenage years.”

What may seem like harmless snacking in adolescence could carry serious health consequences later in life. The rising popularity of junk food is not only fuelling obesity but also raising PCOS cases among pre-teen girls. Encouraging home-cooked, nutrient-rich meals and staying active are simple but powerful steps that can protect the health and future fertility of the next generation.

  

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Doctors Explain Why Normal BMI Doesn’t Always Mean Good Health For Indian Women

For decades, Body Mass Index (BMI) has been the go-to tool for judging health and obesity. But new research shows it can be misleading, especially for Indian women. While BMI measures weight against height, it doesn’t account for how fat is distributed. Many women who fall into a “normal" BMI range still carry excess fat around the waist, which can be far more dangerous than the scale suggests.

Why BMI Alone Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

“What research highlights is a reality we see routinely in clinical practice. BMI in isolation is a poor marker of health, especially in Indian women," explains a Fertility Specialist. “Numerous young women have so-called ‘normal’ BMI but have excess central fat. This central fat is metabolically active and highly linked with insulin resistance, PCOS, irregular menses, and infertility," she adds.

Genetics add to the challenge. Indian women are predisposed to accumulate abdominal fat even at lower weights. Dr. Mehta adds that waist-to-hip ratio, menstrual history, and lifestyle profiling often provide a much clearer picture than BMI alone.

The Hidden Risk of Abdominal Fat

Dr. Anshu Chaturvedi, Head of Dietetics,  points out: “Many young Indian women fall into a ‘normal’ BMI range yet carry fat around their waist and abdomen. That kind of fat is dangerous. It can trigger insulin resistance and increase the risk of PCOS and other metabolic problems, even when weight appears normal."

She stresses the importance of awareness: “Women cannot assume a normal BMI means they are safe. Symptoms like irregular periods, sudden belly fat, or signs of insulin imbalance often matter more than the number on the scale."

Beyond BMI: Smarter Screening

Dr. Parnamita Bhattacharya, Gynaecologist, agrees. “We frequently see cases of abnormal fat accumulation around the waist and upper abdomen, which is linked to insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, and fertility challenges. A simple waist-to-hip ratio measurement is often more telling than BMI – anything above 0.85 in women should raise concern."

Dr. Mehta says, “For a woman planning pregnancy, it would be unwise to assume that a normal BMI means healthy reproductive potential. Identifying risks early makes a big difference for both fertility and long-term health."

While BMI can provide a rough estimate, it is far from complete. Doctors recommend women pay closer attention to body composition, waist size, and metabolic health markers.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Signs You Need to Rebalance Your Nervous System

In a culture in which everything feels urgent, social media is filled with bad news, and our work days feel endless, something’s bound to give. Often, that thing is our nervous systems. In fact, if you’re chronically feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, irritable, or worse, there’s a good chance your nervous system is dysregulated.

But what exactly does it mean to have a “dysregulated” nervous system? And, most importantly, how can we get it back on track? Read on to find out.

What is the nervous system?

“Think of your nervous system as your body’s operating system, quietly working behind the scenes to influence how you feel, recover, and connect,” explains an expert. “The more you learn about it, the more empowered you become in making choices that nurture your resilience.”

To that end, here’s a little refresher on the role of the nervous system. Basically, it acts as a messenger between the body and the brain via a network of nerves and neurons. According to the doctors, these nerves and neurons “transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body, including internal organs. In this way, the nervous system’s activity controls the ability to move, breathe, see, think, and more.” 

The nervous system can be divided into two parts, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic system. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for responding to stressful situations and activating the body’s “fight or flight” response, while the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body’s calmer “rest and digest” mode.

Ideally, our nervous system should be able to maintain an equilibrium between these two systems, dynamically switching between the two modes as needed. This state of balance is called “homeostasis”—a word you probably remember from seventh grade biology class. But if not, an ezpert offers this helpful definition: “homeostasis refers to the ability of the body to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions.”

Living in survival mode

When we feel like we’re in danger, our sympathetic nervous system kicks on to protect us from the threat. “The brain goes into survival mode, mobilizing the sympathetic system to activate fight-flight mode,” explains  a functional health practitioner who specializes in the vagus nerve. Essentially, survival mode is a state of hyper-vigilance in which the heart rate and blood pressure increase, readying the body to “fight or flee” if necessary.

Going into survival mode is actually healthy; our bodies evolved the mechanism as a way to keep us safe. If a tiger is chasing us, say we’d want that fight-flight response to kick in asap. Unfortunately, however, sometimes our bodies can get stuck in this mode, tiger or not.

“Any physical or psychological stimuli that disrupt homeostasis results in a stress response,” notes a recent scientific overview that looked at the physiology of the stress response. Not all of these stressors are negative—think: exercise, falling in love, and even working towards a goal. However, experiencing chronic stress (or repetitive acute stress) can cause the sympathetic nervous system to become overstimulated, preventing the parasympathetic nervous system from switching into rest-digest.

This dysregulation can lead to a cascade of adverse health effects. “Prolonged exposure to chronic stress can lead to cumulative physiological and psychological effects, increasing the risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease, anxiety, and depression,” the aforementioned scientific overview states. “This pattern may be characteristic of individuals who lead chaotic or disorganized lifestyles, constantly facing deadlines, commitments, or interpersonal conflicts. The cycle of stress exacerbates health issues and impairs daily functioning.”

According to research, some people’s nervous systems are especially prone to dysregulation. “One of the biggest predictors of a severely dysregulated nervous system is childhood trauma, specifically chronic and ongoing childhood trauma,” notes a certified clinical trauma specialist. This could be experiencing abuse or neglect, but it could also be more run-of-the-mill: “Many of us have childhood attachment wounds,” explains a psychologist and author. "Perhaps we weren’t safe to express our emotions fully, we suffered our parents’ inability to express theirs, or our environment was unpredictable. We learned, without realizing it, to be hypervigilant.”

But chronic stress and childhood trauma aren’t the only reasons one’s nervous system could become out of whack. Other risk factors include everything from burnout to hormonal imbalances to perfectionism to sleep deprivation to nutritional deficiencies. More severe situations, like undergoing physical or emotional abuse (at any age) or suffering from PTSD, prolonged illness or injuries, or living in an unsafe environment can also lead to dysregulation.

Signs your nervous system is dysregulated

“There is a common cluster of symptoms that accompany a dysregulated nervous system,” explains Oliver. “They include: sleep issues, digestive problems, brain fog , hormonal imbalance, emotional reactivity, muscle tension, anxiety, and more.”

For example, you may feel like you have a really short fuse or become prone to sudden emotional outbursts. You may also be extra sensitive to noise and feel super impatient most of the time. “There’s little tolerance for dealing with stress, so anything uncomfortable feels like a ‘dangerous’ experience,” explains a somatic practitioner who specializes in healing the nervous system and trauma recovery. “Emotionally, you think you can’t change or fix how you feel. You feel blocked or resistant to your feelings, and you don’t know how to express anger, anxiety, or sadness in a way that feels healthy, productive, and safe.”

On a physical level, chronic dysregulation can manifest as constant muscle tension, inflammation, chronic pain, and even disease. It can also lead to dissociation—the state of being physically present but mentally absent. This state of “freeze” can feel like disconnection or numbness, a desire to isolate yourself, or the need to constantly occupy your mind by incessantly scrolling on your phone. “You may feel no connection with your body at all,” says Hayes.

While these symptoms are all telltale signs of dysregulation, Oliver notes that it can be helpful to get some hard data to confirm. “HRV (heart rate variability) measurements can provide more insight,” she explains. “Low HRV is indicative of a greater level of nervous system dysregulation. Additionally, biomarkers like hormone levels, blood pressure, and metabolic markers can show allostatic load, which is essentially the wear and tear that stress causes on the body—an indirect measure of nervous system regulation.”

How to regulate the nervous system

When it comes to regulating your nervous system, there are no quick fixes—it’s more about the long game. “However, there are certainly some easy and free things you can do to boost parasympathetic nervous system activity,” says Oliver, who shares her tips below.

Breathing: Try extended exhale breathing. Inhale for two counts, then exhale for four. Get into the habit of practicing this so that it becomes your default.

Movement: Whether it’s a walk, a workout class, or simply dancing around your living room, moving your body in ways that feel nourishing can help reduce baseline cortisol and adrenaline while boosting serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins—all of which improve mood.

Nature: Even brief time outdoors or short contact with green spaces can ease your nervous system.

Connect: Spend quality time with a supportive friend, family member, or pet. Even a short chat with a coworker or neighbor can lower stress.

Journal: Bullet journaling, gratitude journaling, and junk journaling can all be a helpful way to untangle thoughts and process emotions.

Reduce chronic stressors: This can mean everything from heavy metals to mold to processed foods to toxic relationships.

It’s also a good idea to seek professional help—especially if the dysregulation is the result of trauma. To that end, Oliver recommends exploring modalities such as somatic experiencing therapy, EDMR, neurofeedback, HRV training, and potentially even working with a nutritionist to improve git health. “There is a direct connection between the gut and brain via the vagus nerve,” she says, noting that combining multiple modalities with education is usually the most effective way to create long-lasting balance.

Just remember, healing is a process—and small changes can really add up. “Turn to things in your environment that the body is designed to love: sunshine, nature, hydration, healthy food, and secure social relationships,” Hayes advises. “Slowing down when performing the most mundane tasks like eating, walking, brushing your teeth, and doing the dishes can go a long way to helping the emergency signals pause.”

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs

 

Medical conditions that can cause hair loss

Factors that can lead to hair loss

There are numerous reasons behind why one experiences hair loss. It could either be hereditary or an outcome of medical treatments or even due to an underlying disease. While losing hair is not something to be worried about, in case it is extreme and is leading to baldness, you must address it and find out the source of your problem.

Following are some of the health conditions that can lead to major hair loss or thinning of hair and may need medical intervention.

Thyroid problems

Hair loss can be a consequence of hormonal imbalance. Hormones help regulate bodily functions and have a significant role to play when it comes to hair growth. Thyroid is what controls our body's ability to absorb essential nutrients like iron, calcium, etc that are responsible for hair growth. That said, both hypo- or hyperthyroidism, which are linked to under- and overactive thyroid glands respectively, can lead to loss of hair.

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease associated with hair loss and balding. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles, resulting in thinning hair, patches of hair loss, some balding, or total baldness. This could either be temporary or permanent, but it can be treated. One must consult the doctors.

Lupus

Lupus is another autoimmune disease that can lead to hair loss. It can cause widespread inflammation of the skin, especially the face and the scalp region. It can slowly thin out the hair on the scalp and gradually lead to baldness. Besides the hair on your head, you can lose hair from any part of your body, including eye lashes, eyebrows, beard, etc. Certain medications may help with recovery, but this condition can be permanent. Make sure to speak with your doctor.

Nutrient deficiencies

Studies have suggested that lack of certain nutrients can lead to hair loss, which is why many experts recommend a proper diet to restore your hair growth and strength. Iron, zinc, fatty acids and various vitamins are all important nutrients you must add to your diet so as to prevent the risk of hair loss. While lack of iron in the body can limit the flow of oxygen to the body, zinc plays a vital role in cell and immune function and protein synthesis, crucial for hair growth. Besides, fatty acids reduce inflammation, whereas Vitamin B3 ensures lustrous hair growth. That said, nutrient deficiencies may be a significant cause of hair loss.

Stress and hair loss

When it comes to stress associated with hair loss, there are three different types to it: Telogen effluvium, Trichotillomania and Alopecia areata.

Telogen effluvium: In such cases, the mental stressors push hair follicles to a resting phase, making it easy to fall out over time.

Trichotillomania is the unsuppressable urge to pull out hair from the scalp, even eyebrows. This can be a result of major stress.

 

Alopecia areata, as we have iscussed, is an autoimmune disease, which can be caused by stress. However, many other factors can also lead to it. 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement