Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) experience increased weight gain during life, thus weight management and preventing weight gain should be the first line treatment. Weight loss is usually self-initiated because practical support for weight management is often limited or even lacking. Perception of overweight is considered an important prerequisite for weight loss attempts, although there is no prior research regarding women with PCOS. The main aim of the study was to investigate whether women with PCOS are more likely to have multiple weight loss attempts compared to non-PCOS controls regardless of weight. In addition, we evaluated women’s weight perception in relation to weight loss attempts.

Methods

The study is part of Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 including women with PCOS (n=280) and non-PCOS controls (n=1573) examined at ages 31 and 46 years. Multiple weight loss attempts, weight perception, body mass index (BMI), and psychological distress were analyzed along with sociodemographic factors at both time points. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed, and the results were reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Women with PCOS had higher prevalence of multiple weight loss attempts by age 31 and 46 years compared to controls (P<0.001). Despite this, women with PCOS had significantly higher BMI at both time points (P<0.001). PCOS was independently associated with multiple weight loss attempts at age 46 when adjusted for psychological distress and BMI (OR 1.44 [95% Cl, 1.01–2.05]) or perception of overweight (OR 1.45 [95% Cl, 1.03–2.03]). Perception of overweight was the most significant factor contributing to multiple weight loss attempts at both time points. Perception of overweight was more prevalent in PCOS compared to controls, and interestingly, perception of overweight was more common even among normal weight women with PCOS at age 31 (P=0.004) and age 46 (P<0.001) years. Indeed, PCOS was independently associated with perception of overweight at age 31 when adjusted for BMI and leisure-time physical activity (OR 1.69 [95% Cl, 1.01–2.85]), and at age 46 when adjusted for BMI and psychological distress (OR 2.65 [95% Cl, 1.37–5.13]).

Conclusions: Women with PCOS are more likely to experience multiple weight loss attempts as well as perception of overweight independent of BMI until late fertile age compared to non-PCOS controls. In clinical practice, adequate support and resources should be offered to reduce inefficient weight loss attempts and stress.