Selection of Appropriate Tools for Evaluating Obesity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients

Abstract

Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have unique endocrine and metabolic characteristics, whereby the incidence and potentiality of obesity, as well as the accompanying risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, are significantly increased. Currently, BMI is widely used to diagnose and classify obesity. However, body fat is not accounted for in BMI calculations, and the missed diagnosis rate of obesity is nearly 50%. Since PCOS patients with normal weight are also characterised by a high content of fat or fat distribution of android type, some of these patients are often overlooked if an inappropriate diagnostic tool for obesity is selected, which affects the therapeutic effect. Herein, we have reviewed the mechanism and diagnostic methods of PCOS-related obesity and suggested that not only body weight and circumference alone, but also the body fat percentage and fat distribution, should be considered for the evaluation of obesity in PCOS patients.