Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine condition that represents
a lifelong health concern for 1 in 10 women worldwide.
1
PCOS is commonly diagnosed by the presence of ovulatory dysfunction, androgen excess,
and/or ovaries with polycystic morphology on ultrasound examination.
2
Half of patients experience overweight or obesity.
3
Most are at increased risk for serious comorbidities, including infertility, pregnancy
complications (eg, gestational diabetes mellitus), impaired glucose tolerance, insulin
resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, gynecological cancers,
anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and poor health-related quality of life.
4
,
5
Over the past decade, clinicians and researchers have increasingly recommended lifestyle
modifications to achieve and maintain healthy weight and improve metabolic outcomes
in women with PCOS.
6
Now, with the recent publication of the first international evidence-based guideline
for PCOS, diet and exercise have been solidified as fundamental components of the
condition’s management.
7
,
Teede H, Misso M, Costello M, et al. International Evidence-Based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Melbourne, Australia; 2018. www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/mchri/pcos. Accessed July 10, 2018.
8
It is clear that the expertise of a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) is essential
to provide adequate nutrition care for this patient population. However, accumulating
survey evidence suggests that RDNs receive limited referrals for PCOS and generally
feel uninformed about its specific sequelae and treatments.
9
,
10
,
11
This commentary aims to address these two gaps by summarizing the new international
recommendations for lifestyle management of PCOS
7
,
Teede H, Misso M, Costello M, et al. International Evidence-Based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Melbourne, Australia; 2018. www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/mchri/pcos. Accessed July 10, 2018.
8
and exploring some challenges that the current referral and knowledge landscapes
might pose to their implementation in the United States. It concludes with a call
to action for RDNs and provides additional recommendations and resources for those
that care for women with PCOS.Keywords
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Biography
B. Y. Jarrett is a postdoctoral fellow, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Biography
A. W. Lin is a research consultant, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Biography
M. E. Lujan is an associate professor, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 12, 2018
Accepted:
October 1,
2018
Received:
July 25,
2018
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT The cross-sectional study described in this manuscript was partially funded by the Cornell University Human Ecology and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Associations. A. W. Lin is also supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, USA at Northwestern University (National Institutes of Health grant T32CA193193).
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© 2019 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
