Editor’s Pick: Selection of Appropriate Tools for Evaluating Obesity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients

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Editor’s Pick: Selection of Appropriate Tools for Evaluating Obesity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients

In women of reproductive age, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common abnormalities, and obesity is observed in about 80% of these patients. The relationship between PCOS and obesity is complex, and therefore the study “Selection of Appropriate Tools for Evaluating Obesity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients” is very welcome. The author concludes that using BMI to diagnose and classify obesity, a high fat content, or fat distribution of android type in PCOS patients with normal weight can be overlooked. Prof Joep Geraedts

*Yang Xu

Reproductive and Genetic Medical Center, Peking University First Hospital; OB/GYN Department, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
*Correspondence to xuyangm@126.com

Disclosure: The author has declared no conflicts of interest.
Received: 02.05.17 Accepted: 06.07.17
Citation: EMJ Repro Health. 2017;3[1]:48-52.

Abstract

Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have unique endocrine and metabolic characteristics, whereby the incidence and potentiality of obesity, as well as the accompanying risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, are significantly increased. Currently, BMI is widely used to diagnose and classify obesity. However, body fat is not accounted for in BMI calculations, and the missed diagnosis rate of obesity is nearly 50%. Since PCOS patients with normal weight are also characterised by a high content of fat or fat distribution of android type, some of these patients are often overlooked if an inappropriate diagnostic tool for obesity is selected, which affects the therapeutic effect. Herein, we have reviewed the mechanism and diagnostic methods of PCOS-related obesity and suggested that not only body weight and circumference alone, but also the body fat percentage and fat distribution, should be considered for the evaluation of obesity in PCOS patients.

The post Editor’s Pick: Selection of Appropriate Tools for Evaluating Obesity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients appeared first on European Medical Journal.

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