[Prevalence of eating disorders among women with polycystic ovary syndrome].

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age. Symptomes and complications of PCOS have adverse effect on quality of life among concerned women. Most research findings suggest that PCOS is associated with eating disorders, but there are inconsistent results in connection with their relationship in the published literature.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of eating disorders among women with PCOS.

METHODS

Body mass index (BMI), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) and Eating Behaviour Severity Scale (EBSS) were used to measure eating attitudes and behaviors. Furthermore PCOS symptomes were measured by Ferriman-Gallwey Score, Global Acne Grading Score, Savin Scale and other pcos symptoms were also accessed. A total of 318 women were included in this analysis. The sample consists of a PCOS group (N=95), a control group (N=100) and a hyperandrogen group (N=123). The Prevalence of clinical bulimia nervosa was 5.3%, subclinical anorexia nervosa 1.1% and subclinical bulimia nervosa was 10.5% among PCOS women. 1.6% subclinical bulimia nervosa was detected in the hyperandrogen group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study indicate that the prevalence of clinical and subclinical bulimia nervosa is increased among women with PCOS compared to healthy women. Eating disorders can have significant negative influence on the outcome of the treatment of PCOS. To sum up, these findings suggest that it should be necessary to pay attention to the screening of eating disorders, and the findings also reveals that psychological treatment of eating disorders among women with PCOS is relevant.