Poor quality diet is associated with overweight status and obesity in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
The high rates of overweight status observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may reflect dietary intake, and so it is important to investigate diet quality and its relationship with the rates of overweight status and obesity among these patients.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 100 women with PCOS (Rotterdam criteria) were evaluated considering anthropometric and dietary data. The anthropometric evaluation included the measurement of weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference and waist-hip ratio. Food intake data were collected from two 24-h dietary recalls to assess dietary patterns using the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index - Revised (BHEI-R).


RESULTS
The anthropometric analysis indicated a high prevalence of overweight status, obesity and increased visceral fat (30.0%, 60.0% and 90.0%, respectively). The mean BHEI-R score was 56.1 ± 12.0 points (range 34.5-77.5 points). Diet quality was negatively correlated with obesity, which was evaluated by BMI (r = -0.248; P = 0.013) and WC (r = -0.278; P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary interventions focused on improvement of diet quality should be targeted to treat patients with PCOS because obesity in these women is associated with worsening endocrine, metabolic and reproductive functions.
Department of Nutrition, Nursing School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
A M dos S
AM
Rodrigues
L B
LB
Martins
A M T
AM
Franklin
A L
AL
Candido
L C
LC
dos Santos
A V M
AV
Ferreira
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
diet quality; obesity; polycystic ovary syndrome