Association Between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Eating Disorders

Mental health issues related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are significant yet often overlooked. Research on the link between PCOS and eating disorders in India is limited. The study aimed to examine the distribution of PCOS patients based on sociodemographic factors such as age, BMI, and parity; assess menstrual history among PCOS patients; determine the prevalence of various eating disorders (binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa) within the study group; and compare the prevalence of eating disorders in PCOS patients versus age-matched controls using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) scores. This cross-sectional observational study involved 50 diagnosed PCOS patients aged 16-40 years alongside an equal number of age-matched controls.

The results showed the following:

The average age of PCOS patients was 26.56 ± 4.33 years.
Most of these patients were overweight, nulliparous, and experienced oligomenorrhea, with 52% diagnosed with binge eating disorder.
In contrast, most control women were also overweight and nulliparous but had regular menstrual cycles and no eating disorders (88%).
Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in EDE-Q global scores and subscale scores relating to eating concern, shape concern, and weight concern between PCOS patients with eating disorders and non-PCOS controls.
However, no significant difference was found in the restraint subscale score.

In conclusion, significant association exists between PCOS and eating disorders across various domains, except for restraint. Therefore, it is crucial to raise awareness and educate women about disordered eating in relation to PCOS. Health professionals should develop formal treatment guidelines and maintain a high level of clinical suspicion for timely diagnosis of both conditions, promoting early lifestyle management to mitigate complications.

Source: Lala S, Bhattacharya NN. Assessment of Eating Disorders Among Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Presenting to a Specialty Hospital in Eastern India: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Obstet Gynecol India. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-024-02089-y

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