Women with PCOS are at higher risk of developing eating disorders
A recent study found that women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a 50 percent higher risk of developing eating disorders, including binge eating. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which several small, fluid-filled sacs develop along the oyster-like edge of the ovary, known as cysts. These cysts contain immature eggs. PCOS is characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, excessive androgen levels, and polycystic ovaries. The study was published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Laura Cooney, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin in the US and first author of the study, said the analysis is the first to confirm “an increased risk of specific eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa, commonly called bulimia, and binge eating disorder” among women affected by the hormonal disorder.
Bulimia is a serious illness that causes severe problems in a person’s eating behavior. It is characterized by uncontrolled episodes of excessive food intake, called binge eating, followed by purging with methods such as vomiting or the misuse of laxatives or diuretics. Binge eating involves eating much larger amounts than one would normally eat in a short period of time, often less than two hours.
Women with PCOS are known to be at higher risk for metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, and reproductive problems, including infertility. Cooney said: “Many women with PCOS experience weight stigma, and that can be detrimental to overall mental health and contribute to eating disorders.”
For the study, researchers analyzed the results of 20 cross-sectional studies in nine countries. The analysis included data from nearly 29,000 women with PCOS and more than 250,000 women who did not have the condition. The authors wrote: “People with PCOS were more likely to have any Eating disorderwhich persisted in studies in which PCOS was diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria.”
According to the Rotterdam criteria, women are diagnosed with PCOS when they have two of three key features: an increased number of ovarian follicles containing immature eggs (called polycystic ovaries) seen on ultrasound, slightly higher levels of testosterone, or related symptoms such as excess body hair and irregular or missed menstrual periods.
Looking at the women’s body mass indexes (BMIs), researchers found that both normal-weight and overweight women were at increased risk for eating disorders, suggesting that the risk of developing eating disorders was not dependent on BMI.
Cooney said: “Our findings emphasise the importance of assessing whether women with PCOS have eating disorders before doctors give them any lifestyle advice.”
She added: “The lifestyle modifications we often recommend for women with PCOS (such as physical activity, a healthy diet, and behavioral modifications) may hinder the recovery process from eating disorders. Health care providers should be vigilant for the detection of eating disorders in this population.”
(With contributions from PTI)
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