title: Weight Loss and Lowering Androgens Predict Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life in Women With PCOS.
abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and increased prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders. The impact of PCOS-specific treatments on these co-morbidities is unclear.
  
  
  
  To assess the impact of weight loss and decreasing hyperandrogenism on HRQOL and mood and anxiety disorders in women with PCOS.
  
  
  
  A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (OWL-PCOS) of preconception treatment conducted at two academic centers in women (age, 18-40 years; body mass index, 27-42 kg/m(2)) with PCOS defined by Rotterdam criteria.
  
  
  
  Continuous oral contraceptive pill (OCP) or intensive lifestyle intervention or the combination (Combined) for 16 weeks.
  
  
  
  Changes in HRQOL assessed by PCOSQ and SF-36 and prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder assessed by PRIME-MD PHQ.
  
  
  
  The lowest scores were noted on the general health domain of the SF-36 and the weight and infertility domains on the PCOSQ. All three interventions resulted in significant improvement in the general health score on the SF-36. Both the OCP and Combined groups showed improvements in all domains of the PCOSQ (P < .01) compared to baseline scores. The Combined group had significant improvements in the weight, body hair, and infertility domains compared to a single treatment group (P < .05). In a linear regression model, change in weight correlated with improvements in the weight domain (P < .001) and physical well-being (P < .02), change in T correlated with improvements in the hair domain (P < .001), and change in both weight and T correlated with the infertility (P < .001) and menstrual domains (P < .05).
  
  
  
  Both weight loss and OCP use result in significant improvements in several physical and mental domains related to quality of life, depressive symptoms, and anxiety disorders, and combined therapies offer further benefits in overweight/obese women with PCOS.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Anuja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dokras
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Sarwer
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Kelly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Milman
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Penny M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kris-Etherton
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Allen R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kunselman
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Christy M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Stetter
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Nancy I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Carol L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gnatuk
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Stephanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Estes
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coutifaris
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.D., L.M., C.C.) and Psychiatry (D.B.S., K.C.A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.L.G., S.J.E., R.S.L.), and Public Health Sciences (A.R.K., C.M.S., R.S.L.), Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033; and Departments of Nutritional Sciences (P.M.K.-E., J.F.) and Kinesiology (N.I.W.), Penn State College of Health and Human Development, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Legro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016742:Preconception Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral