Diet and physical activity behaviors among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Are they different from healthy women?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the diet and physical activity habits among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and compare them with age and BMI matched controls.

METHODS

This cross-sectional cohort study included 90 women with PCOS from a diverse population representing various socioeconomic backgrounds in both urban and rural areas. Ninety women with PCOS, diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria, were matched for age and BMI with 270 healthy women from the same community who served as a reference group. Both groups completed interviews about their dietary habits and physical activity using a validated 126-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and Exercise questionnaire. Additionally, dietary assessment was performed using Diet-Cal Software.

RESULTS

Based on 24-hour dietary intake calculations, total calorie, carbohydrate, and fat consumption were higher, while fiber intake was lower in the PCOS group. When assessing and comparing the frequency of specific food groups using a food frequency questionnaire, certain foods-such as milk/milk products, processed foods, cereals, root/tubers, pulses, and nuts-were found to be more commonly consumed. Physical activity hours were significantly lower in the PCOS group. Univariate, multivariate, and explainable machine learning models were also developed to explore the relationship between dietary habits and physical activity in women with PCOS.

CONCLUSIONS

The PCOS group differs from the control group in overall calorie, carbohydrate, fat, and fiber intake. The PCOS group also exhibited poorer physical activity behaviors compared to the control group.