(P26-009-24) Intuitive Eating, Diet Quality, and Health Related Quality of Life in Individuals With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common female endocrine disorder, and presents with reproductive, metabolic, and psychological complications, including disordered eating. While lifestyle modifications are recommended for PCOS, most focus on weight loss, despite PCOS affecting all body sizes. Unfortunately, individuals with PCOS report dissatisfaction with the current lifestyle recommendations. Thus, alternative methods should be explored. The primary objective of this study was to describe adherence to intuitive eating (IE), a non-dieting approach to changing eating habits, in this population. The secondary objective was to examine associations between IE, diet quality, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in individuals with PCOS.

Methods: 342 individuals with PCOS, 18-40 years, completed a cross-sectional survey that included validated instruments to assess IE (Intuitive Eating Scale-2), diet quality (Picture Your Plate [PYP]), and HRQOL (Modified PCOS-Specific Health-Related Quality of Life). Participants were categorized into high (n=82) or low IE (n=260) groups based on responses to two items on the IE scale (“I rely on my fullness [satiety] signals to tell me when to stop eating” and “I trust my body to tell me how much to eat”). Independent samples t-tests explored associations between IE, diet quality, and HRQOL.

Results: Participants were 80% white, 84% non-Hispanic with a mean age of 31±5 years and body mass index of 30.0±7.6 kg/m². IE scores ranged from 1.3-4.5 (mean 3.0±0.6), with higher scores indicating greater adherence to IE. The high IE group had significantly greater mean PYP scores (high IE: 64.2±10.2, low IE: 61.4±9.7; p=0.026) compared to the low IE group, suggesting better overall diet quality. The high IE group also reported significantly lower intake of sweets, snacks, and restaurant foods than the low IE group (p=0.004). Additionally, the high IE group reported significantly greater HRQOL (high IE: 3.9±1.1, low IE: 3.5±0.9, p< 0.001) than the low IE group.

Conclusions: Greater adherence to IE principles was associated with overall greater diet quality and HRQOL. This suggests that non-dieting approaches may be beneficial for PCOS. Further research should examine the role of IE in improving diet quality and health for individuals with PCOS.

Funding Sources: Research DPG, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics