low birth weight may increase body fat mass in adult women with polycystic ovarian syndrome

background: women engaged with polycystic ovarian syndrome (pcos), as the commonest endocrine disorder, are known to have a specific type of adiposity. birth weight is among different contributors reported to be responsible for this diversity. objective: we aimed to compare the relation between birth weight and body fat mass (bfm)/ body lean mass (blm) in pcos and their age and body mass index (bmi) matched normal controls. materials and methods: in this case-control study, a total number of 70 reproductive aged women, diagnosed with pcos and 70 age- bmi matched healthy women without hirsutism and/or ovulatory dysfunction were recruited., control group had no polycystic ovaries in ultrasonographic scans. a detailed history of birth weight was taken and was divided into the following categories: <2,500 (low birth weight, lbw) and 2,500-4,000 (normal birth weight; nbw). results: results showed that lbw prevalence was higher in women with pcos than in controls (19.3% (27) vs. 15.7% (22)). also body fat and lean mass (bfm, blm) have increased in adult women with pcos who were born underweight compared to their normal (19.8±9.05 vs. 12.9±4.5, p=0.001 and 48.9±6.9 vs. 43.2±5.8, p=0.004 respectively). conclusion: fetal birth weight influences on the adulthood obesity, bfm and blm. this impact is different among women with and without pcos.