Intuitive eating is positively associated with body appreciation and other biopsychosocial measures in individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)/polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS): A cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)/polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), is the most common female endocrine disorder, presenting with reproductive, metabolic, psychological, and social complications. Current lifestyle modifications focus on weight loss, despite PCOS/PMOS affecting individuals across body sizes and the high prevalence of disordered eating. Thus, alternative treatment approaches, such as intuitive eating, should be explored. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to describe intuitive eating behaviors in individuals with PCOS/PMOS. The secondary objective was to examine the associations between intuitive eating and biopsychosocial factors related to the disease, including body appreciation, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), psychological symptoms, social support, and diet quality. DESIGN: This study was a cross-sectional online survey. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Individuals living in the United States with a self-reported PCOS/PMOS diagnosis (n=342), between ages 18-40 years, were recruited online using social media between March 2023 and January 2024. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcomes included intuitive eating, body appreciation, HRQOL, psychological symptoms, social support, and diet quality. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Multiple linear regression analyses explored relationships between intuitive eating and biopsychosocial measures, with age, length of time since diagnosis, and BMI as covariates. RESULTS: Individuals with PCOS/PMOS (79.2% white, 83.9% non-Hispanic, mean [SD], 30.8 [4.8] years) had moderate intuitive eating scores (mean [SD], 3.0 [0.6]; 75th percentile: 3.4, possible range 1-5). Intuitive eating scores were positively associated with body appreciation (ß= 0.496, p<0.001), HRQOL (ß= 0.250, p<0.001), diet quality (ß= 0.210, p<0.001), and tangible social support (ß= 0.190, p<0.001) Additionally, intuitive eating scores were negatively associated with psychological symptoms (ß= -0.257, p<0.001), and psychological symptoms subscales, depression (ß= -0.230, p<0.001), anxiety (ß= -0.172, p<0.05), and stress (ß= -0.282, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Greater self-report of intuitive eating practices was associated with more favorable biopsychosocial measures, highlighting intuitive eating as an area for future research in PCOS/PMOS populations.