PCOS is a metabolic, endocrine, and reproductive disorder that impacts an estimated 5million people of reproductive age. Individualized care is needed for those experiencing PCOS to address concerns that range from infertility, low energy, and disordered eating to increased risks of type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea endometrial cancer, fatty liver disease, anxiety, and depression.
Sam Abbott shares her experience as a registered dietitian nutritionist and creator of the PCOS Food Freedom Program as we learn to navigate this journey with clients and patients.
Sam Abbott, MSEd, RD, LDN 
Maggie Runyon, MSN, RNC-OB
Sam (she/her) is a registered dietitian nutritionist who helps those with PCOS ditch diets, improve insulin resistance and balance hormones without feeling guilty or stressed about food. She is passionate about empowering people with PCOS to find peace and balance with nutrition, hormones, body and life. She is also the creator of the PCOS Food Freedom Program – a complete program for improving hormone balance without a side of diet culture or weight stigma. You can find Sam on Instagram at @pcos.nutritionist where she gives free tips and support around PCOS nutrition education.
For a condition that affects so many people of reproductive age, we see that it is underfunded and under-researched, which leads to a significant amount of conflicting information about it. Sam shares her insights into how we can best support our clients as they navigate their PCOS journey.
Join us in conversation as we explore:
~what PCOS is and is NOT
~associated health risks related to pregnancy and beyond
~supporting a variety of lived experiences with PCOS
~combatting misinformation in PCOS management
~political involvement in research challenges surrounding PCOS
~addressing PCOS nutrition while avoiding a weight-centric approach
~how to support fertility desires with focus on decreasing insulin resistance & inflammation
~setting reasonable expectation for postpartum recovery and lifelong PCOS journey
You can learn more about Sam’s programs and get her
PCOS Snacking Guide with great examples!
For resources to expand your understanding of PCOS:
PCOS Challenge and Advocacy Day
PCOS Pregnancy and Delivery Complications
*note nutrition recommendations could be more inclusive
For expanding your thinking around weight-centric healthcare:
The Maintenance Phase Podcast: The BMI Index
Check out this episode’s full transcript or tune in wherever you enjoy podcasts.
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Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)