Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Eating Disorder Quality of Life: A Pilot Study

Objective: To compare ‘quality of life related to eating and exercise’ (QOL ED) in women with and without PCOS who are seeking fertility treatment. Method: Twenty-one women with and 128 women without PCOS aged 20 to 46 years attending IVF clinics in Sydney, Australia participated. Participants completed the QOL ED questionnaire containing six eating disorder subscores and a global score. Multivariate analyses included age and Body Mass Index (BMI) as covariates and logistic regression included current BMI. Results: Women with PCOS had significantly poorer QOL ED global scores and poorer eating behaviour, eating disorder feelings, psychological feelings and acute medical subscores. The total PCOS group was best represented by current BMI and the acute medical subscore. The non-obese PCOS group (BMI 19 to 29.9 kg/m2) was best represented by the eating disorder feelings subscore (reflecting a preoccupation with control of body weight and eating). Women with PCOS were significantly more likely to obtain a QOL ED global score above a non-eating disorder range (total sample 17% versus 8%; non-obese women 44% verses 12%) and a global score consistent with the presence of a current diagnosis of an eating disorder (total group 14.6% versus 2.3%; non-obese 22.2% versus 1.8%). Conclusion: These findings support assessment of disordered eating and lifestyle change as the first-line treatment of women with PCOS irrespective of BMI.