Disordered Eating Behaviors During Adolescence and Risk of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
Girls who binge eat during adolescence may have increased odds of developing PCOS.
Study context
- Population
- Female participants of the Growing Up Today Study, United States, 1996–2021; disordered eating self-reported on repeated questionnaires
- Participants
- 6,208 participants
- Exposure
- Disordered eating behaviors in adolescence vs never
- Outcome
- Physician-diagnosed PCOS (adulthood), aOR by past-year frequency of binge eating, laxative use and self-induced vomiting
Methodological detailslongitudinal, multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations
- Longitudinal
- Multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
PCOS
Each group vs never binge ateAdjusted odds ratio (95% CI)
Binge eating more than monthlycumulative
1.59(1.09–2.33)
Laxative use less than monthlycumulative; lower odds of PCOS
0.45(0.29–0.72)
Laxative use at least monthly
1.67(0.89–3.14)
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cases identified
- 410 (7%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Prevalence of disordered eating behaviors at least once during follow-up
- Binge eating
- 2331 (38%)
- Self-induced vomiting
- 1103 (18%)
- Laxative use for weight control
- 701 (11%)
Original publication
Disordered Eating Behaviors During Adolescence and Risk of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 2 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →