There are a number of health issues that exclusively concern women. In general, they are all related to fertility. From difficulties to conceiving, to pregnancy, to post-natal recovery, and years later menopause all have significant links with weight.
Sometimes weight can be the exacerbating factor, for example, both excessive weight gain and excessive weight loss can cause huge disruption to the menstrual cycle, which in turn has a significant impact on fertility and the potential to fall pregnant. At other times, weight can be an unwanted consequence of a health condition, such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
Women who have already experienced issues around eating and weight, or have suffered from eating disorders, may be more at risk from health problems around fertility and may also suffer from stress and body image issues as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.
Obesity, or at the other end of the spectrum excessively low weight, both have other long term health impacts including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory problems and certain types of cancer.
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Helen West – DieticianHelen has 16 years of clinical experience in supporting women with their nutritional requirements as they move through different life stages. She understands and has empathy for the challenges and health changes a woman faces, making her treatment solutions both practical and realistic.