Dietary Intake, Eating Behaviors and Body Image among Women with and without Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the cause of infertility among 75% of women. This study aimed to assess dietary intake, eating behaviors and body image among women with and without PCOS. Totally, 116 patients with PCOS and 116 subjects without PCOS who referred to Hazrat Zeinab Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran were enrolled. In this cross-sectional, descriptive analytical study, the demographic and 24-hour diet recall, emotional eating (EEQ), and multidimensional bodyself relationship (MBSRQ) questionnaires and physical activity were recorded for all participants. The percentage of dietary protein (P=0.005) and eicosapentaenoic acid intake (P=0.024) in non-PCOS group was significantly higher than PCOS patients. There was a difference between the two groups regarding mean body mass index (BMI) (P=0.001), physical activity (P=0.327), EEQ (P=0.153) and the individual’s attitude toward the mental image of their body by MBSRQ (P=0.377). No significant difference was noted among PCOS patients regarding carbohydrate, fiber, and saturated fatty acid intake, when compared with non-PCOS group. MBSRQ and EEQ scores were lower among PCOS patients, denoting to the need for investigation on a larger sample size.