Hollywood is historically notorious for body-shaming and imposing harmful beauty standards onto the people involved in the industry. While changing times have led to improved inclusion on several fronts—namely, race, sexuality, and neurodiversity—body-type acceptance lags way behind for most women. The unnecessary criticisms of people’s bodies will target anyone, even those whose weight or appearance is affected by biological factors such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Such is the case with Grammy-nominated artist Bebe Rexha and Pretty Little Liars star Sasha Pieterse, who have opened up about their experiences with PCOS-related weight gain. Interestingly, their willingness to talk about the condition and the body-shaming they’ve dealt with over the years has raised questions regarding the symptoms linked to PCOS.
What is PCOS and how does it affect the body?
Medical News Today describes PCOS as a hormonal disorder that affects women in their reproductive years. Most women experience symptoms such as irregular periods, increased androgen levels, excess hair growth, weight gain, acne, and small cysts on their ovaries. It is an extremely nuanced condition that can, at times, be difficult to identify, and the World Health Organization even cites that up to 70% of PCOS cases go undiagnosed for women.
While the experiences of PCOS patients may vary, some studies from the National Library of Medicine suggest that there are close links between excess weight and PCOS. As a matter of fact, around 38-88% of women with PCOS struggle with being overweight or obese. The condition makes weight loss more complicated, as PCOS can make the body resistant to insulin, causing the pancreas to produce more of the hormone. Having excess insulin promotes fat storage and increases hunger, which can lead to weight gain.
For some women, having the right diet and incorporating exercise are effective strategies for losing PCOS weight. However, others need alternative weight management support, usually through medication. Some patients are prescribed drugs to manage their symptoms, such as Metformin for weight loss. It is an FDA-approved generic drug used to treat type 2 diabetes but is sometimes used off-label for weight loss and weight-related conditions. As a weight loss prescription, Metformin is particularly effective in addressing weight loss for those with insulin resistance, which is why it is commonly prescribed for PCOS patients.
Alternatively, semaglutide medication such as Wegovy can also be prescribed to aid weight management among PCOS patients. It is a once-weekly injection that helps suppress appetite and delay emptying of the stomach, thereby supporting weight loss.
Shining a light on PCOS awareness
Considering the pain-inducing and uncontrollable effects of PCOS, it is a small wonder why Sasha Pieterse has expressed extreme frustration over her experience with weight gain. During an appearance on an episode of The Squeeze podcast, Pieterse shared that she had never experienced having regular menstrual periods, and her early experience with PCOS symptoms were overlooked by her doctors. When she was in her late teens, she gained over 70 lbs within the span of a year, prompting body-shaming comments.
The star struggled with weight loss well into adulthood and only got diagnosed with PCOS after visiting an endocrinologist. Now, Pieterse said she speaks out publicly about her journey with PCOS to raise awareness of the condition and garner more interest in helping women figure out the symptoms.
Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha has also shared similar sentiments, and she was candid on The Jennifer Hudson Show to talk about how tough it can be to deal with PCOS. Rexha was only diagnosed in 2022 but mentioned how she “jumped 30 pounds so quickly”, which she received criticism for on social media. The singer expressed her struggle with weight and body image but is working towards improving her relationship with her body.
In response to hate comments she received online, she also encouraged people not to talk about others’ weight, especially when they don’t know what someone is going through. Rexha also emphasized that she wants to “just show people love,” advocating for body positivity where PCOS-related weight gain is concerned. She remains vocal about her PCOS diagnosis and prioritizes staying positive when the online comments get overwhelming.
