Correlating Improvement in PCOS Symptoms to the Percentage of Body Weight Lost in Females Also Living With Obesity

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common disorder affecting up to 20% of women of reproductive age associated with, but not exclusive to, obesity. Excess weight and especially visceral adiposity lead to increased insulin resistance which in turn will promote decreased SHBG concentrations and excess androgen secretion from the ovaries. Weight-loss is known to improve PCOS symptoms in individuals but threshold of weight-loss needed to achieve improvement in many PCOS outcomes is poorly understood, as is the impact of varied weight-loss strategies employed to promote weight loss. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study is to understand the effects of increasing weight loss thresholds on multiple PCOS symptoms and features, using a 24-week intensive weight loss program (STREAM) with the possibility of added pharmacotherapy for weight loss when indicated. RESEARCH QUESTION What is the required weight loss to achieve significant improvement in PCOS outcomes including metabolic, endocrine, fertility and mental health parameters? Is there a difference in outcome improvement from different approaches (meal replacement, adjunct pharmacotherapy), independent from weight-loss? PRIMARY OUTCOMES To identify the percentage of bodyweight loss needed to achieve significant improvement in each of the following: * Endocrine parameters (SHBG, Testosterone, Androstenedione, LH/FSH ratio) * Insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR) * Lipid profile (TG, HDL and Non-HDL levels) * Liver enzyme profile (ALT) * Menstrual cyclicity (yes/no) * Quality of life scale (QOLS-public domain, see annex) STUDY DESIGN Participants will be recruited from those already referred to the LEAF Clinic. Women over the age of 18 who meet the inclusion criteria will be invited to participate in the STREAM program, a 24-week intensive weight-loss program that includes full and partial meal replacement, dietician group coaching and weekly meetings with a weight-loss specialist physician. The program cost, $2250, will be waived for the purpose of limiting sampling bias as the cost can be untenable for many patients. DATA COLLECTION Participants will complete PCOS-specific blood tests at the launch of the program, at the end of the 24 weeks and then again at 6 months after the program is finished. They will also be asked to complete the same blood draws at every 5% weight loss from their baseline. Participants will also be asked to complete the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS), a short survey, at the same intervals. ANTICIPATED RESULTS Learning more about individual variations in outcome improvement with gradual weight loss in a population of women living with PCOS will be helpful in individualizing approaches to weight loss in this population. This study could not only help determine predictors of improvement for each outcome but as well identify weight loss strategies that are more efficient for specific outcomes. This will result in better care for women living with PCOS.