Management of obesity in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Introduction: Approximately 1% of adolescents have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and almost 40-70% of these patients are overweight or obese. Obese adolescents with PCOS have more severe insulin resistance and hyperandrogenemia, a more adverse lipid profile and a worse quality of life than normal-weight adolescents with PCOS. Accordingly, weight loss is an important component of the management of these patients.Areas covered: The authors discuss the different options for weight loss in obese adolescents with PCOS. Lifestyle changes appear to be effective but adherence to this intervention is suboptimal. There are also limited data regarding the optimal diet in this population. Few small studies have evaluated the effects of pharmacotherapy in these patients. Conflicting data have been reported regarding the effects of metformin on body weight. Notably, agents that have been approved for weight loss in adults have not been evaluated in adolescents with PCOS.Expert opinion: More studies are needed to identify the most appropriate diet for obese adolescents with PCOS. Well-designed randomized controlled studies are also needed to define the safety and efficacy of pharmacotherapy in this population.