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Role of obesity and adiposity in polycystic ovary syndrome

International Journal of Obesity volume 31, pages S8–S13 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. Obesity may have a marked impact on both the development and progression of the syndrome. A high proportion of women with PCOS are obese. Regardless of the degree of obesity, women with PCOS are more likely to have central (abdominal) distribution of body fat, which is associated with insulin resistance and hyperandrogenaemia. PCOS is not only a reproductive disorder, but is also associated with significant increase in metabolic aberrations and cardiovascular risk factors. It has been shown that weight loss improves the metabolic and reproductive abnormalities that characterise the syndrome.

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  1. 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

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Diamanti-Kandarakis, E. Role of obesity and adiposity in polycystic ovary syndrome. Int J Obes 31 (Suppl 2), S8–S13 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803730

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