Case study: Felicity Baker from Radlett, Herts*
Felicity Baker, a busy senior manager, had been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome several years before she found herself in Professor Farid's office, constantly tired and having gained two and a half stone in weight.
Her previous doctor had treated the condition with an invasive laparoscopy operation, during which the cysts on her ovaries were removed via incisions in the abdomen. However, the actual cause of the disease was not addressed.
"I was under the impression that once you had your polycystic ovaries treated, they were gone," she explained. "I had no idea they could return."
Three years later, she realised the Professor might be able to help her after speaking to a friend who had visited him. Felicity heard how her friend had discovered she was insulin resistant and had lost five stone in weight after following his advice.
"I went to him because I'd put on a lot of weight and I was really tired: I'd come in from work and be laying fast a sleep on the sofa, still wearing my coat and shoes," she said. "Professor Farid could tell straight away what was wrong with me, and explained the importance of making lifestyle changes and following a low Gl diet."
Felicity explained that before she was introduced to the low Gl way of eating, she would eat a large baked potato for lunch and want something else straight away afterwards. "The low Gl diet Professor Farid recommended to me was difficult at first but I could see the benefits quite quickly. I didn't feel hungry all the time for the first time ever, and my energy levels returned to normal."
Felicity was referred to a dietician and advised to cut down on alcohol and try to make time for herself to relieve stress, and her weight soon returned to normal.
Her new lifestyle also brought with it something that Felicity had worried would take a lot longer to achieve.
"Professor Farid had warned me that I would find conception difficult in the state I was in when I first visited him — but within three months of following his plan I fell pregnant."
*Identity has been changed
Reproduced with permission from Limited Edition Magazine.