Effect of Dietary Weight Loss on Menstrual Regularity in Obese Young Adult Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Study objective: To investigate the effect of dietary weight loss on menstrual regularity in obese adolescent women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design and setting: A randomized controlled trial was held at the Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, and the Obesity Clinic of the Rheumatology Department at Mansoura University Hospitals between July 2011 and January 2013.

Participants: Sixty adolescent women with PCOS, body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, and complaints of menstrual irregularities were included in this study. Enrolled women were divided equally and randomly into 2 groups: intervention and control groups.

Interventions: Women in the intervention group (n = 30) were subject to an intensive dietary educational program with instructions to follow a conventional energy restricted diet, whereas women in the control group were instructed to follow the same healthy diet of the first group without calorie restriction.

Main outcome measures: Menstrual regularity, weight loss, the effect on waist circumference, and hirsutism score.

Results: The 2 groups were initially matched in average body weight, BMI, hirsutism score, and waist circumference. Six months later, there were significant decreases in all parameters in the weight reduction group. In addition, more menstrual episodes were recorded in the weight reduction compared with the control group (3.1 ± 1.2 vs. 2.3 ± 1.3; P = .010). Also, BMI, waist circumference, and hirsutism score were all significantly decreased at the end of the study.

Conclusion: Dietary weight loss in adolescent women with PCOS resulted in significant improvement in menstrual regularity, BMI, waist circumference, and hirsutism score.

Keywords: BMI; Healthy diet; Hirsutism score; Menstrual regularity; PCOS; Waist circumference; Weight reduction.