The analysis is the first to confirm "an increased risk of specific eating disorders, including
Bulimia is marked by episodes of binge-eating, followed by resorting to means to avoid weight gain, which can include induced vomiting, excessive exercising or fasting.
Women having PCOS are known to be at a higher risk of experiencing
For the study, published in The
"Individuals with PCOS had higher odds of any eating disorder, which persisted in studies where PCOS was diagnosed by Rotterdam criteria," the authors wrote.
According to the Rotterdam criteria, women are diagnosed with PCOS when they have two of these three key features -- increased numbers of ovarian follicles containing immature eggs (called polycystic ovaries) seen on ultrasound, slightly higher levels of testosterone or related symptoms like excess body hair, and irregular or no menstrual periods.
Looking at the body mass indices (
"Our findings emphasise the importance of screening women with PCOS for eating disorders before clinicians share any lifestyle advice," Cooney said.
"The lifestyle modifications we often recommend for women with PCOS -- including physical activity, healthy diet and behaviour modifications -- could hinder the recovery process for eating disorders. Health care providers need to be vigilant about screening for eating disorders in this population," Cooney said.