Why are women with polycystic ovary syndrome obese?

Abstract

Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition characterized by reproductive, hyperandrogenic and dysmetabolic features, and often becomes clinically manifest during adolescence, particularly with weight-gain. Sources of data Pubmed search. Areas of agreement PCOS is heritable and closely associates with obesity (based on data from both epidemiological and genetic studies). Furthermore, insulin resistance forms a central cornerstone of the pathogenesis of PCOS and mediates a close association between obesity and the severity of the phenotypic features of PCOS. Areas of controversy Our understanding of the pathogenesis of PCOS remains incomplete, especially regarding its missing heritability (with only a small fraction having been identified from the genome-wide association studies reported to date), and its developmental origins. Growing points A challenge for the future is to explore a role for epigenetic modifications in the development of PCOS, and implications for the in utero environment and novel therapeutic opportunities.