Time-Restricted Eating Supports Weight Loss in Women with PCOS - News Center

"A time-restricted eating program - consuming all meals between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. without tracking calorie intake - promoted greater weight loss in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) than no intervention, according to a randomized controlled trial published in Nature Medicine."

"The results suggest time-restricted eating can promote weight loss and potentially alleviate symptoms in women with PCOS, an endocrine disorder that affects nearly 1 in 5 women of childbearing age and is the most common cause of infertility in young women globally."

""We know that the inflammation and insulin resistance that characterize PCOS can make it harder for people with PCOS to lose weight, so it's an important finding that time-restricted eating is safe and effective for weight loss in people with PCOS," said Shaina Alexandria, PhD, assistant professor of Preventive Medicine in the Division of Biostatistics and Informatics and a co-author of the study."

"A mainstay of PCOS is insulin resistance - when cells throughout the body improperly respond to insulin, which helps move glucose from the blood into cells to use for energy. This causes the pancreas to overproduce insulin to balance out glucose levels and, in response, drives excess androgen production (hyperandrogenism)."

A randomized controlled trial found that consuming all meals between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. without tracking calories led to greater weight loss in women with polycystic ovary syndrome than no intervention. The findings suggest time-restricted eating can promote weight loss and potentially alleviate PCOS symptoms. PCOS is an endocrine disorder affecting nearly 1 in 5 women of childbearing age and is a common cause of infertility. Women with PCOS often have elevated androgen levels, irregular or absent menstrual periods, abnormal ovulation, and signs such as acne and changes in hair growth. Many also experience obesity and low-grade inflammation. Insulin resistance contributes by increasing insulin production and driving excess androgen production. Existing treatments include oral birth control pills and metformin, which can carry risks including mood disorders.

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