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Cited by 26Ovarian function and disordersObesity, Physical Activity, DietDiabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins

Weight loss for women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome following a very low-calorie diet in a community-based setting with trained facilitators for 12 weeks

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Nikokavoura, Efsevia, Johnston, Kelly L, Broom, John, Wrieden, Wendy, Rolland, Catherine·2015·Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy
DOI 10.2147/dmso.s85134PMC PMC4610794
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects between 2% and 26% of reproductive-age women in the UK, and accounts for up to 75% of anovulatory infertility. The major symptoms include ovarian disruption, hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and polycystic ovaries. Interestingly, at least half of the women with PCOS are obese, with the excess weight playing a pathogenic role in the development and progress of the syndrome. The first-line treatment option for overweight/obese women with PCOS is diet and lifestyle interventions; however, optimal dietary guidelines are missing. Although many different dietary approaches have been investigated, data on the effectiveness of very low-calorie diets on PCOS are very limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aim of this paper was to investigate how overweight/obese women with PCOS responded to LighterLife Total, a commercial very low-calorie diet, in conjunction with group behavioral change sessions when compared to women without PCOS (non-PCOS). RESULTS: PCOS (n=508) and non-PCOS (n=508) participants were matched for age (age ±1 unit) and body mass index (body mass index ±1 unit). A 12-week completers analysis showed that the total weight loss did not differ significantly between PCOS (n=137) and non-PCOS participants (n=137) (-18.5±6.6 kg vs -19.4±5.7 kg, P=0.190). Similarly, the percentage of weight loss achieved by both groups was not significantly different (PCOS 17.1%±5.6% vs non-PCOS 18.2%±4.4%, P=0.08). CONCLUSION: Overall, LighterLife Total could be an effective weight-loss strategy in overweight/obese women with PCOS. However, further investigations are needed to achieve a thorough way of understanding the physiology of weight loss in PCOS.

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  • The retrospective VLCD study was limited by being a retrospective analysis, having a high attrition rate (73%), not comparing dietary intake data, and only including participants with PCOS with obesity.

    “it was a retrospective analysis of a lifestyle intervention, had a high attrition rate (73%), did not compare dietary intake data, and only included participants with PCOS with obesity [114]”

    From Moving beyond Weight: A Narrative Review of the Dietary and Lifestyle Management for Reducing Cardiometabolic Risk in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) (2023) · cites this paper as [114]

    The Introduction and Discussion identify this as a retrospective analysis, and the Results report 137 completers out of 508 participants in each group—about 73% did not complete the 12 weeks. The Methods describe the prescribed diet but report measurements of height and weight, not a comparison of participants’ dietary intake. The claim that it included only participants with PCOS with obesity is too narrow: the Source of data section includes women with BMI ≥28 kg/m², and the Discussion describes the PCOS group as overweight or obese. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • After 12 weeks, the PCOS group in a retrospective VLCD and CBT-informed behavior change program had lower body weight compared to baseline.

    “After 12 weeks, the PCOS group had lower body weight compared to baseline [114]”

    From Moving beyond Weight: A Narrative Review of the Dietary and Lifestyle Management for Reducing Cardiometabolic Risk in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) (2023) · cites this paper as [114]

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References 58 · Cited by 26

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Authors
Nikokavoura, E., Johnston, K. L., Broom, J., Wrieden, W., & Rolland, C.
Affiliations
  • Robert Gordon University (GB)
  • LighterLife (GB)
Corresponding author
Rolland, Catherine
ORCID
Venue
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2015-10
Volume
8
Pages
495
ISSN
1178-7007 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.2147/dmso.s85134
PMC
PMC4610794
OpenAlex
W1904748619
Cited by
26
References
58
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
FWCI
1.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Open Access Institutional Repository at Robert Gordon University (Robert Gordon University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Dove Medical Press (Taylor and Francis Group) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Open Access Institutional Repository at Robert Gordon University (Robert Gordon University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
Funders
LighterLife
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
Keywords
polycystic ovary syndrome, weight loss, very low calorie diet, obesity, overweight women, insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, anovulatory infertility

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