There is a specific body type that is often associated with having PCOS. This typical body type includes being overweight, especially around the midsection, and having acne and excess hair growth on the face and chest.
However, there is also a group of women who have the hormonal changes associated with PCOS, as well as the cystic ovaries seen on ultrasound, but who don’t fit the physical characteristics so often seen in PCOS. These women are referred to as having lean PCOS or thin PCOS.
Treatment for PCOS varies from woman to woman. What is appropriate for one person may be completely inappropriate for another. Options include using the birth control pill, metformin (if there’s evidence of insulin resistance), and supportive measures to manage the individual symptoms that each woman is experiencing. Of course, where weight loss is typically one of the main focuses with PCOS, women with lean PCOS don’t need to worry about weight loss. They still, however, have to make sure that they eat healthy foods and exercise regularly.
