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President Martin Reincke Munich, Germany. President-elect Jérôme Bertherat Paris, France. Secretary Mónica Marazuela Madrid, Spain. Treasurer Djuro Macut Belgrade, Serbia. Executive Committee members:
Philippe Chanson Paris, France. Mirjam Christ-Crain Basel, Switzerland. Martin Fassnacht Würzburg, Germany. Simona Glasberg Jerusalem, Israel. Riccarda Granata Torino, Italy. Robin Peeters Rotterdam, The
Netherlands. Ex-Officio members: EYES Representative Eva Coopmans, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Nurse Representative Sherwin Criseno West Bromwich, UK. ECAS Representative Anton Luger Vienna, Austria.
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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Valens Izere
Media Office European Society of Endocrinology
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Under embargo until 23 May 2022 13:00 CEST
Press release – European Congress of Endocrinology 2022 Abstract OC5.4: Body Composition during
Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood influences the odds of developing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A
Mendelian Randomisation Study with a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Body weight influences the chance of developing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
A recent study found a clear relationship between obesity and the chance of developing polycystic ovary
syndrome (PCOS). The team report obesity during childhood and teenage years are particularly vital to the
disease’s development. This ground-breaking public health research will be presented during the 24th
European Congress of Endocrinology on 23 May 2022 in Milan, Italy.
PCOS is a common condition. Many cases go undiagnosed, but according to a 2016 study1 this condition
affects up to 10% of women. PCOS affects how women’s ovaries work and can manifest itself as irregular
periods, high levels of “male” hormones and enlarged ovaries with fluid-filled sacs surrounding the eggs2.
PCOS can lead to diabetes, infertility, poorer quality of life, and pregnancy complications.
The goal of the study was to see if obesity had an impact on the development of PCOS. Dr. Laurence Dobbie,
an academic junior doctor at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the United Kingdom, and Professor
Daniel Cuthberson, Professor of Medicine at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, investigated whether
obesity and diabetes markers contribute to PCOS development with colleagues from the University of
Liverpool.
The study included a genetic analysis, termed mendelian randomisation, of over 110,000 people. The team
also pooled data from 63 other studies, via meta-analysis, to assess how overweight and obesity affect the
chance of developing PCOS.
The study highlighted that BMI, body fat levels and markers indicative of diabetes are vital in PCOS
development. They also showed that girls with overweight who go on to have a normal adult body weight
are still more likely to develop PCOS. The team also reported that obesity and overweight during adolescence
are particularly important in the development of the condition.
1 https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/31/12/2841/2730240
2 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/
European Society of Endocrinology
Starling House, 1600 Bristol Parkway North, Bristol, BS34 8YU, UK Tel +44 1454 642247 info@euro-endo.org www.ese-hormones.org
President Martin Reincke Munich, Germany. President-elect Jérôme Bertherat Paris, France. Secretary Mónica Marazuela Madrid, Spain. Treasurer Djuro Macut Belgrade, Serbia. Executive Committee members:
Philippe Chanson Paris, France. Mirjam Christ-Crain Basel, Switzerland. Martin Fassnacht Würzburg, Germany. Simona Glasberg Jerusalem, Israel. Riccarda Granata Torino, Italy. Robin Peeters Rotterdam, The
Netherlands. Ex-Officio members: EYES Representative Eva Coopmans, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Nurse Representative Sherwin Criseno West Bromwich, UK. ECAS Representative Anton Luger Vienna, Austria.
Registered in England and Wales No. 5540866. Registered Office: Redwood House, Brotherswood Court, Great Park Road, Almondsbury Business Park, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32 4QW, UK. Company Limited by
Guarantee. Registered Charity No. 1123492.
“This study shows that obesity during childhood and teenage years are key factors in the development of
PCOS. This opens a way to support women’s health by investing in nutritional and weight management
programmes for younger people. This also has the potential to prevent the condition’s consequences which
include poorer quality of life, infertility, diabetes and pregnancy complications. Future research should focus
on developing new ways to help women affected by PCOS manage their weight”, said Dr Laurence Dobbie.
“The team report that girls with obesity who go on to have a normal weight in adulthood are still more likely
to develop PCOS. This clearly shows that weight management during childhood is vital to prevent PCOS
development. This has the potential improve women’s health.”, concluded Professor Cuthbertson.
-ENDNotes
for Editors
1. The presentation “Body Composition during Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood influences the
odds of developing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Mendelian Randomisation Study with a Systematic
Review and Meta-analysis” will be presented on Monday 23 May at 12:50 CEST at ECE 2022 in Milan
on the 21-24 May 2022. You can access more information about the congress here.
2. The European Society of Endocrinology was created to promote research, education, and clinical
practice in endocrinology by the organisation of conferences, training courses and publications, by
raising public awareness, liaison with national and international legislators and by any other
appropriate means.
About the European Society of Endocrinology
The European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) provides a platform to develop and share leading research
and best knowledge in endocrine science and medicine. By uniting and representing every part of the
endocrine community, we are best placed to improve the lives of patients. Through the 54 National
Societies involved with the ESE Council of Affiliated Societies (ECAS) ESE represents a community of over
20,000 European endocrinologists. We inform policy makers on health decisions at the highest level
through advocacy efforts across Europe.
To find out more please visit www.ese-hormones.org.
Follow us on Twitter @ESEndocrinology,
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European Society of Endocrinology
Starling House, 1600 Bristol Parkway North, Bristol, BS34 8YU, UK Tel +44 1454 642247 info@euro-endo.org www.ese-hormones.org
President Martin Reincke Munich, Germany. President-elect Jérôme Bertherat Paris, France. Secretary Mónica Marazuela Madrid, Spain. Treasurer Djuro Macut Belgrade, Serbia. Executive Committee members:
Philippe Chanson Paris, France. Mirjam Christ-Crain Basel, Switzerland. Martin Fassnacht Würzburg, Germany. Simona Glasberg Jerusalem, Israel. Riccarda Granata Torino, Italy. Robin Peeters Rotterdam, The
Netherlands. Ex-Officio members: EYES Representative Eva Coopmans, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Nurse Representative Sherwin Criseno West Bromwich, UK. ECAS Representative Anton Luger Vienna, Austria.
Registered in England and Wales No. 5540866. Registered Office: Redwood House, Brotherswood Court, Great Park Road, Almondsbury Business Park, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32 4QW, UK. Company Limited by
Guarantee. Registered Charity No. 1123492.
Abstracts
OC5.4
Body Composition during Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood influences the odds of developing
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Mendelian Randomisation Study with a Systematic Review and Metaanalysis
Laurence J Dobbie1,2, Sizheng Steven Zhao3, Bradley Pittam4, Uazman Alam1,2, Thomas M Barber5, Daniel J
Cuthbertson1,2
1University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United
Kingdom; 2Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Institute of Life Course and Medical
Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; 3Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis,
Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology
Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; 4Manchester University
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom; 5Warwick Medical School, University of
Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
Background Observational and genetic Mendelian randomisation (MR) data has demonstrated the
association of adulthood overweight/obesity with development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
However, the contribution of early life (i.e. childhood/adolescence) body composition on incident PCOS is
unclear. This study determines the influence of body composition on the likelihood of developing PCOS.
Methods We conducted a 2-sample Mendelian randomisation study to determine the impact of body
composition and metabolic parameters (fasting serum insulin or sex-hormone binding globulin) on the odds
of PCOS. PCOS genome-wide association study meta-analysis data (from 10,074 people with PCOS, 103,164
controls) was interrogated using the inverse-variance weighted method. Furthermore, we conducted a
systematic review (71 studies) and meta-analysis (63 studies) of the role of overweight, obesity and central
obesity (defined via waist circumference / waist-hip ratio) on odds of PCOS in adults and adolescents.
Results From Mendelian randomisation, significant associations were shown between body composition and
odds of PCOS. For every standard deviation increase in BMI (a BMI increase of 4.8kg/m2), odds of PCOS
increased significantly (OR: 2.76, 2.27 – 3.35). Similar associations were demonstrated between body fat
percentage (OR: 3.05 per 8.5%, 2.24 – 4.15), whole-body fat mass (OR: 2.53 per 9.6kg, 2.04 – 3.14), fasting
insulin (OR: 6.98 per 0.79pmol/L, 2.02 – 24.13) and sex-hormone binding globulin (OR: 0.74 per 28nmol/L,
0.64 – 0.87). Genetically determined childhood body size increased odds of PCOS after adjusting for adult
body size (OR: 2.56, 1.57 – 4.20). From meta-analysis, women with overweight (OR 3.80, 2.87- 5.03)), obesity
(OR 4.99, 3.74 – 6.67) and central obesity (OR 2.93, 2.08 – 4.12) had increased odds of PCOS. For adolescents
with overweight and/or obesity the PCOS odds were greater than for adults (adult vs. adolescent:
overweight: OR 3.57 and 5.32; Obese: OR 4.66 and 7.86).
Conclusions Using two complementary epidemiological techniques we demonstrate a clear relationship
between markers of body composition, indicative of excess body fat accumulation, and odds of developing
PCOS, especially in childhood and adolescence. MR reports that genetically determined childhood body
composition increases PCOS likelihood independent of adult body composition. From meta-analysis, women
with overweight, obesity and central obesity had increased odds of PCOS, with odds even higher in
adolescents with overweight and obesity. Overall, this study has implications for the prevention and
treatment of obesity and the importance of effective weight maintenance from early years and beyond.