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  • My name is Claire Daly and I am an Accredited Practising Dietitian in private practice in Australia.I have personal and professional experience in PCOS and also fertility issues. This gives me an opportunity to help women and adolescents make changes to their own diet and weight to improve their health with PCOS. If you are a woman and trying to get pregnant, I can also provide diet plans and support to increase your chances of getting pregnant if you have PCOS. I can also help you eat well during pregnancy and beyond. I provide consultations in person and by telephone or online. I have worked with several fertility specialists, conducted patient education sessions for Monash IVF and developed resources on PCOS for other Dietitians to use. You can read more about my available PCOS services by clicking the button 'Get a personal PCOS diet plan by Claire' in the top left column.
  • I am a member of the Dietitian's Association of Australia and an Accredited Practising Dietitian. Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) are recognized professionals who have the qualifications and expertise to provide expert nutrition and dietary advice. APDs must meet the detailed criteria developed by the Dietitians Association of Australia. Not only do APDs have sound tertiary qualifications, they must undergo ongoing training and comply with the profession’s guidelines for best professional and ethical practice. Accredited Practising Dietitians display a distinctive logo to enable you to easily identify them.
  • I can be contacted by email (link below) or by phone to 041 212 0498.

Depression and Anxiety Feed

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Feeling down? Changing your diet and lifestyle can decrease feelings of depression in women with PCOS...

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Depression appears to be more common in women with PCOS and it's very common in the women who come along to my practice for counselling. Although it's not the primary reason for them being there (that's usually to lose weight or improve health or fertility), we notice that when they adhere to a PCOS friendly diet, their symptoms of depression also improve.

A recent study in Fertility and Sterility supports this. One hundred and four overweight women with PCOS were randomised to one of 3 20 week lifestyle programs:

  • diet alone
  • diet and aerobic exercise
  • diet and aerobic-resistance exercise

Depression levels and overall quality of life were measured at the beginning and conclusion of the 20 weeks. By week 20 all groups had achieved weight loss and improvements in both Depression and overall quality of life scores. The authors concluded that both diet and diet/exercise combinations were effective in improving depression symptoms.

So it doesn't matter which approach you take - start something today! Get some advice and support on a PCOS friendly diet and chat to your GP or an Exercise Physiologist about an exercise program. You will be on the way to feeling better both mentally and physically. Who doesn't deserve that?

(Reference: Fertility and Sterility, 2010 Oct; 94(5): 1812-6. Lifestyle management improves quality of life and depression in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Thomson et al.)

For individual consultations on PCOS and Diet, contact Claire at EatWell Nutrition and Dietetics in Melbourne.

You can also get more information about depression at Beyond Blue

Until next time,

Claire

Claire Daly is an Accredited Practising Dietitian / Accredited Nutritionist who works with women and families. She has particular interest in working with women who have PCOS (Claire has PCOS herself), fertility problems or who are wanting to achieve a healthy weight and good health prior to and during pregnancy. Claire has her own private practice in Melbourne. For more information visit www.eatwell.com.au

Like to use this blog post in your own newsletter or publication? Just email Claire to let her know which article you would like to use and how I would like you to acknowledge the source of the article, then you are on your way.

Posted by at 05:05 PM in Depression and Anxiety, Research on Diet & PCOS | | Comments (0)

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