Quality of Life and Body Mass Index in Overweight Adult Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome During a Lifestyle Modification Program

Abstract

Objective To evaluate changes in body mass index (BMI) and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), including an acne parameter, of overweight adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) during a lifestyle modification program. Design Prospective longitudinal within‐patient study. Setting Department of Reproductive Medicine of the Ghent University Hospital (Belgium). Participants Thirty‐three overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) women with PCOS between age 18 and 43 years. Methods Participants followed a 24‐week lifestyle modification program consisting of a diet, exercise, and psychological subprogram. BMI was assessed at Weeks 0, 8, 16, and 24 of the program. The HRQoL was measured at Week 0, 12, and 24 of the program using the PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to evaluate the influence of acne on HRQoL. Results During a 24‐week period no significant decrease in BMI occurred (mean difference = 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] [−1.38, 4.81]. During that period, there was a significant positive evolution of the total PCOSQ score, F(2, 37.5) = 23.7, the emotions, F(2, 37.9) = 4.2, weight, F(2, 42.1) = 24.8, body hair, F(2, 35.6) = 3.3, and infertility problems domain scores, F(2, 43.1) = 15.64, of the PCOSQ, as well as of the acne VAS score, F(2, 29.3) = 4.2. These effects primarily occurred during the first 12 weeks. Conclusion In spite of no significant changes in BMI, the HRQoL of overweight adult women with PCOS significantly improved during a 24‐week lifestyle modification program.

Quality of life in adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…Weight issues continued to be an area of concern for adolescent girls in the majority of studies included, 14,[29][30][31][32][33] which has previously been reported in similar studies in adult women. 36,37 Weight was also a driving influence in QoL scores in the study by Trent et al, 24 the largest study to date of QoL in adolescent girls with PCOS and healthy adolescents, in which the majority of adolescent girls with PCOS were overweight or obese (76%). Likewise, two studies only assessed QoL in obese adolescent girls and these were intervention studies that demonstrated improvement in QoL along with some improvement in weight.…”

The longitudinal association between weight change and health‐related quality of life in adults and children: a systematic review

“…People seeking treatment for obesity have lower HRQOL than the general population with obesity and therefore stand to gain the most from weight loss treatment, limiting the generalizability of results from treatment‐seeking populations . In these populations, it may also be exposure to the intervention itself, which causes improved HRQOL independent of actual weight loss .…”

“…At the study level, we decided to include only longitudinal observational studies, which are more prone to various types of bias. Our research question could not be answered with randomized control trials, as weight loss interventions do not provide information on weight gain and exposure to interventions themselves may cause HRQOL changes independent of weight loss . In the included studies, long follow‐up times often led to considerable loss to follow‐up and the selection of healthier populations.…”

“…The review found only one study reporting a significant correlation between weight loss and improved mental HRQOL after surgery, with the other studies showing no correlation . Exposure to the weight loss intervention, rather than to weight loss itself, may partly mediate these HRQOL improvements . Moreover, the results of weight loss studies are not transferable to the general population with or without obesity, as people with obesity seeking weight loss treatment have lower HRQOL than the general population with obesity .…”

Efeitos do treinamento físico aeróbio sobre a função sexual em mulheres com síndrome dos ovários policísticos: ensaio clínico controlado

“…Além disso, já foi demonstrado que o treinamento físico aeróbio melhora a função endotelial (BELARDINELLI et al, 2005;DOW et al, 2017). Dessa forma, a melhora de mais escores da função sexual no grupo intermitente, possivelmente ocorreu por uma somatória de fatores, como a redução da RCQ, redução da testosterona, melhora dos escores de ansiedade e depressão e de qualidade de vida, bem como outros fatores não avaliados por este estudo, como VO2máx, o aumento da circulação local e de alteração de fatores metabólicos (ANDERS e HAMPSON, 2005;BELARDINELLI et al, 2005;PALOMBA et al, 2008;TJONNA, A. E. et al, 2008;SIJIE et al, 2012;THOMSON et al, 2012;DE FRÈNE et al, 2015;MATSUO et al, 2015;DOW et al, 2017;GORDON et al, 2017). Esses são fatores bem investigados e avaliados após protocolos de treinamento físico aeróbio, diferente de estudos envolvendo a função sexual.…”