Hormonal
Excess body fat during childhood and adolescence causally increases the risk of developing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in adulthood, independent of adult body size.
Maintaining healthy body composition during childhood and adolescence is critical for preventing PCOS later in life. Even if adult weight is normal, excess fat during youth leaves a lasting metabolic imprint (insulin resistance/low SHBG) that increases PCOS risk. Early lifestyle interventions are the most effective prevention strategy.
Our study demonstrates for the first time a critical role of the impact of excess childhood/adolescent adiposity on the pathophysiology of adult PCOS... Childhood body size had an independent effect on PCOS odds after adjusting for adult body size (OR: 2.56, 1.57–4.20).
Why this rating
Uses robust Mendelian Randomization (MR) to establish causality, minimizing confounding and reverse causation, supported by large-scale meta-analysis.
Source
Childhood, adolescent, and adulthood adiposity are associated with risk of PCOS: a Mendelian randomization study with meta-analysis
Laurence J. Dobbie et al. · Human Reproduction · 2023
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