From Fast Food to Fast Lives_ India’s PCOS Epidemic

If you’re an Indian woman in your 20s or 30s, chances are you’ve either heard about PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) — a condition that messes with one’s hormones, skin, weight, and mood — or been diagnosed with it. While I haven’t found myself in the latter bucket — and, trust me, I thank the stars for that from the bottom of my ovaries for that — I know way too many people struggling with it. You might know (of) some of them, too: Sonam Kapoor, Masaba Gupta, Sara Ali Khan, Shruti Haasan, Vidya Balan… these are all women who have spoken publicly about their experiences

But why has PCOS — or, PCOD, as it’s sometimes called — becoming so common that it’s been dubbed a “silent epidemic”? According to the WHO (World Health Organization), PCOS is “one of the commonest hormonal disturbances affecting women of reproductive age.” What gives?

Is it just that with greater access to healthcare, more people are diagnosed now? Or, has the modern lifestyle become a fast lane to hormonal havoc?

Over the past few decades, urbanization and economic growth have transformed the way we live. And amazing as it is to have more career opportunities and better Wi-Fi, we are also working really long hours — often juggling demanding jobs and family responsibilities. The glorification of hustle culture doesn’t help either. As a result, erratic sleep schedules, sedentary lifestyles, and sky-high stress levels, have come to be common features of our existence.

That, unfortunately, turns out to be the recipe for hormonal chaos. Studies show that chronic stress and lack of sleep can disrupt our hormones — particularly insulin and cortisol, which are major players in PCOS. Stress-induced hormonal imbalances can worsen symptoms like irregular periods, acne, and weight gain. But who has time for self-care when there’s a deadline to tackle every other minute, right?

To make matters worse, besides grappling with unprecedented stress, our diets have undergone a shift, too. Remember the traditional Indian meals — loaded with whole grains, veggies, lentils, and spices — that many of us who grew up in joint families had the privilege of cherishing? Sadly enough, it’s become a nostalgia-inducing thing of the past now, sidelined for convenience, and replaced by fast, processed food loaded with refined carbs and unhealthy fats that can spike our blood sugar and worsen insulin resistance — a hallmark of PCOS.

Here’s how: research shows that people living with PCOS often have higher insulin resistance, making their bodies store more fat. Insulin also plays a part in regulating testosterone in our bodies: enter hirsutism — the growth of “coarse, dark hair… on [one’s] upper lip, chin, chest, abdomen or back” — which happens to be another symptom of PCOS. Compared to intermittent and unpredictable periods, or an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, mental illnesses, high cholesterol, an even endometrial cancer, hirsutism — or even male pattern baldness and weight gain, also common among people lying with PCOS — might not sound like a big deal. But in a world tying women’s worth to the way they look, the impact these superficial symptoms can have on one’s body image, and therefore mental health, is immense.

A 19-year-old “was so distressed about her hirsutism, and at the same time, hair fall issues that stemmed from PCOS… that she had stopped going out with her friends because she felt ugly in front of them,” Dr. Esha Chainani, an obstetrician and gynaecologist practicing in Mumbai, had reported, arguing that PCOS is more than just a “period problem.”

To sum it up, eating a diet that constantly messes with our blood sugar can — and does — make our lives worse. More so, since we’re moving less, too: bingeing Netflix or doom-scrolling Reddit and Instagram, we’re glued to our devices like never before.

Physical activity can improve insulin sensitivity, regulate hormones, and even help with mood swings. But when gym memberships feel like a luxury and public spaces for exercise become more and more unsafe with each passing day, staying active can quickly become challenging, especially for women.

So, the culprit, here, isn’t just our individual lifestyles; the public infrastructure is equally to blame. If you’re not convinced, let me tell you this: studies have linked exposure to air pollutants to hormonal imbalances and reproductive health issues, including PCOS. Meanwhile, you must’ve heard about India’s air pollution crisis, right? Turns out, it doesn’t just choke our lungs, it messes with our hormones, too. Lucky us!

Then, of course, are the endocrine disruptors found in everyday items like plastic water bottles and non-stick cookware, which can mimic hormones, throwing our bodies out of sync.

Before we pin it all on lifestyle, though, it is important to note that genetics also play a role in making some of us more vulnerable to PCOS, compared to others. But unlike our genes, which we’re kinda stuck with, our lifestyle choices can mitigate — and, of course, amplify — PCOS symptoms.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, though — no matter how many doctors you’ve encountered who oversimplified PCOS by suggesting you to “just lose weight,” without addressing the systemic and hormonal factors that contribute to the condition. What else can one do, then? Well, a fair few things: ditching the processed stuff, move our bodies as often as we can, stressing lesser (if you figure ho wto do this, please get in touch), sleeping more, and eliminating endocrine disruptors from our lives is a good place to start.

But don’t go into a self-hate spiral if you can’t manage to do it all at once. It’s not about perfection. it’s about making small, consistent changes that help you feel more in control of your body and your hormones.

An, please remember: the PCOS epidemic isn’t just a personal issue; it’s a public health crisis.