IJMABHR International Journal of Medical and All Body Health ResearchIJMABHR 2582-8940 Anfo Publication House 472 10.54660/IJMBHR.2026.7.2.118-123 Meal Patterns and Physical activity among women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Case-Control Study MansoorAseel AliSuhailah M Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, College of Nursing, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq 07052026 7 2 118 123 09032026 08042026 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent endocrine illnesses in females of reproductive age, exhibiting systemic metabolic symptoms. The study was designed to compare meal patterns and physical ativity levels between women with PCOS and healthy women. Methods: A quantitative case-control study was conducted at Tikrit Teaching Hospitl and gynecology outpation clinics in Tikrit city, Iraq. A purposive sample of 200 women (100 cases with PCOS and 100 controls). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing demographic data, meal patterns and physical activity. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Result: the data revealed that no significant differences were found between women with PCOS and healthy women regarding meal frequency, breackfast consumption and late night eating. However, a highly significant difference was observerd in snacking behavior(p=0.001). and review high rate of physical inactivity was observed in both group with 87% of women in the PCOS not engaging in regular exercise and 89% reporting activity sessions of less than 15 minutes. Conclusion: women with PCOS often follow unhealthy eating habits and high levels of physical inactivity. Intervention focusing on healthy diet and engage in regular physical activity are beneficial for improving metabolic health and reducing symptom exacerbating in women with PCOS.  

 Meal PatternsPhysical activityPolycystic Ovary SyndromeCase-Control Study References Abutaima R, Barakat M, Sawan HM, Omari SMA, Mhaidat NM. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss among the general population in Jordan: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2024;19(12):e0314407. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0314407 Alqntash N, AlZabin A, Almajed E, Alotaibi K, Alhindi G, Ali SI, et al. Polycystic ovary syndrome: A comprehensive exploration of diagnosis experience in Saudi women. J Clin Med. 2024;13(17):5305. doi:10.3390/jcm13175305 Alsaadi YL, Mohamad BJ. Prevalence of hyperandrogenism in Iraqi women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Iraqi J Sci. 2019;60(12):2600–2608. doi:10.24996/ijs.2019.60.12.8 Benham JL, Yamamoto JM, Friedenreich CM, Rabi DM, Sigal RJ. Role of exercise training in polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Obes. 2018;8(4):275–284. doi:10.1111/cob.12258 Bulsara J, Patel P, Soni A, Acharya S. A review: Brief insight into polycystic ovarian syndrome. Endocr Metab Sci. 2021;3:100085. doi:10.1016/j.endmts.2021.100085 Chang S, Dunaif A. Diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2021;50(1):11–23. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2020.10.002 Collée J, Mawet M, Tebache L, Nisolle M, Brichant G. Polycystic ovarian syndrome and infertility: Overview and insights of the putative treatments. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2021;37(10):869 –874. doi:10.1080/09513590.2021.1958310 Hoeger KM, Dokras A, Piltonen T. Update on PCOS: Consequences, challenges, and guiding treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 ;106(3):e1071–e1083. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa839 Jakubowicz D, Barnea M, Wainstein J, Froy O. High caloric intake at breakfast vs. dinner differentially influences weight loss of overweight and obese women. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013;21(12):2504–2512. doi:10.1002/oby.20460 Jurczewska J, Ostrowska J, Chełchowska M, Panczyk M, Rudnicka E, Kucharski M, et al. Physical activity, rather than diet, is linked to lower insulin resistance in PCOS women—A case-control study. Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2111. doi:10.3390/nu15092111 Kazemi M, Hadi A, Pierson RA, Lujan ME, Zello GA, Chilibeck PD. Effects of dietary glycemic index and glycemic load on cardiometabolic and reproductive profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Adv Nutr. 2021;12(1):161–178. doi:10.1093/advances/nmaa092 Kulshreshtha B, Sharma N, Pant S, Sharma L, Pahuja B, Singh P. PCOS patients differ in meal timings rather than total caloric or macronutrient intake in comparison to weight matched controls. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2022;270:11 –16. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.12.023 Łagowska K, Pieczyńska JM. Not only diet quality and physical activity but also snacking and skipping meals could be related with menstrual disorders in PCOS. Women Health. 2022;62(8):667 –677. doi:10.1080/03630242.2022.2106529 Lim SS, Norman RJ, Davies MJ, Moran LJ. The effect of obesity on polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2013;14(2):95– 109. doi:10.1111/j.1467-789X.2012.01053.x McDonnell T, Cussen L, McIlroy M, O’Reilly MW. Characterizing skeletal muscle dysfunction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab. 2022;13:20420188221113140. doi:10.1177/20420188221113140 Moran LJ, Tassone EC, Boyle J, Brennan L, Harrison CL, Hirschberg AL, et al. Evidence summaries and recommendations from the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome: Lifestyle management. Obes Rev. 2020;21(10):e13046. doi:10.1111/obr.13046 Motlagh Asghari K, Nejadghaderi SA, Alizadeh M, Sanaie S, Sullman MJM, Kolahi AA, et al. Burden of polycystic ovary syndrome in the Middle East and North Africa region, 1990–2019. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):7039. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-11006-0 Papakonstantinou E, Kechribari I, Mitrou P, Trakakis E, Vassiliadi D, Georgousopoulou E, et al. Effect of meal frequency on glucose and insulin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomised trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2016;70(5):5 88–594. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2015.225 Sadeghi HM, Adeli I, Calina D, Docea AO, Mousavi T, Daniali M, et al. Polycystic ovary syndrome: A comprehensive review of pathogenesis, management, and drug repurposing. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(2):583. doi:10.3390/ijms23020583 Shang Y, Zhou H, He R, Lu W. Dietary modification for reproductive health in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021;12:735954. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.735954 Shele G, Genkil J, Speelman D. A systematic review of the effects of exercise on hormones in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2020;5(2):35. doi:10.3390/jfmk5020035 Shishehgar F, Tehrani FR, Mirmiran P, Hajian S, Baghestani AR, Moslehi N. Factors influencing physical activity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome in comparison to eumenorrheic non hirsute women. Glob J Health Sci. 2016;8(10):127. doi:10.5539/gjhs.v8n10p127 Stepto NK, Hiam D, Gibson-Helm M, Cassar S, Harrison CL, Hutchison SK, et al. Exercise and insulin resistance in PCOS: Muscle insulin signalling and fibrosis. Endocr Connect. 2020;9(4):346–359. doi:10.1530/EC-19-0551 International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research www.allmedicaljournal.com Teede HJ, Misso ML, Costello MF, Dokras A, Laven J, Moran L, et al. Recommendations from the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2018;89(3):251 –268. doi:10.1111/cen.13795 Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven JJE, Dokras A, Moran LJ, Piltonen TT, et al. Recommendations from the 2023 international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023;108(10):2447–2469. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgad463