Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common and well-known endocrine disorder affecting women of childbearing age, characterized by reproductive dysfunction including hyperandrogenism, menstrual and/or ovulatory irregularity together with subfertility, and metabolic dysfunction including hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
More than 50% of women with PCOS are either overweight or obese which further worsens all symptoms. Previous studies have shown that obesity, especially abdominal obesity, has been reported to aggravate insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, and dyslipidemia, and increase the risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and psychological problems in women with PCOS. It is also associated with a poor response to infertility treatment and an increased risk for pregnancy complications in those women who do conceive.
Given that the relationship between PCOS and obesity is complex and not well understood, this Research Topic aims to discuss and unravel the most recent advancements in the field and encourages original research, reviews, or other accepted article types relating, but not limited, to:
- Mechanisms whereby weight gain and obesity contribute towards the development of PCOS, and vice versa.
- Role of obesity in exacerbating PCOS.
- Relationship between visceral adipose tissue and PCOS.
- Prevalence of PCOS among adolescents and adult women with obesity.
- Risk of development of comorbidities such as diabetes type 2 in adolescents with PCOS and obesity.
- Genetic components involved in the development of obesity and PCOS.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common and well-known endocrine disorder affecting women of childbearing age, characterized by reproductive dysfunction including hyperandrogenism, menstrual and/or ovulatory irregularity together with subfertility, and metabolic dysfunction including hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
More than 50% of women with PCOS are either overweight or obese which further worsens all symptoms. Previous studies have shown that obesity, especially abdominal obesity, has been reported to aggravate insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, and dyslipidemia, and increase the risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and psychological problems in women with PCOS. It is also associated with a poor response to infertility treatment and an increased risk for pregnancy complications in those women who do conceive.
Given that the relationship between PCOS and obesity is complex and not well understood, this Research Topic aims to discuss and unravel the most recent advancements in the field and encourages original research, reviews, or other accepted article types relating, but not limited, to:
- Mechanisms whereby weight gain and obesity contribute towards the development of PCOS, and vice versa.
- Role of obesity in exacerbating PCOS.
- Relationship between visceral adipose tissue and PCOS.
- Prevalence of PCOS among adolescents and adult women with obesity.
- Risk of development of comorbidities such as diabetes type 2 in adolescents with PCOS and obesity.
- Genetic components involved in the development of obesity and PCOS.