5. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
The first sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, will probably be irregular periods. This occurs because high levels of insulin in the body produce more male hormones called androgens. PCOS causes infertility issues and leads to other uncomfortable conditions like acne and abnormal hair growth.
The condition also makes a woman 7x more likely to develop diabetes. PCOS is linked to insulin resistance, which means that a person’s cells can no longer make use of blood sugar for energy; it gets stored as fat instead. The vicious cycle of weight gain and poor health is therefore exacerbated by PCOS.