Association of Body Mass Index with Metabolic and Physiological Parameters of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common endocrine disorder associated with metabolic disturbances, including abnormal lipid levels and obesity. Clarifying the impact of weight status on metabolic factors in affected women is essential for effective management strategies. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of body mass index on blood lipid levels, fasting blood sugar, and blood pressure in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, and to determine the correlations between these metabolic parameters and weight status. Methods: The study included women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome according to the Rotterdam criteria. Data collection included demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as anthropometric (body mass index and blood pressure) and biochemical (fasting blood sugar and lipid profile) measurements. Body mass index was used to classify participants into normal weight, overweight, and obese categories based on the World Health Organization classification. Statistical analysis involved the Kruskal-Wallis test, the Dunn-Bonferroni post-hoc test, and Spearman’s rank-order correlation to assess associations between body mass index and metabolic markers. Results: Among the participants, 69% were classified as either overweight or obese. A higher body mass index was significantly associated with adverse changes in lipid profile, including elevated triglyceride levels (p=0.00) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p=0.00), along with reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p=0.00). Systolic blood pressure was also significantly higher in overweight and obese individuals (p=0.04). However, fasting blood sugar levels did not differ significantly across body mass index categories (p=0.19). Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between body mass index and triglycerides (ρ = 0.26, p = 0.00) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ρ = 0.20, p = 0.04), while body mass index was negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ρ = -0.27, p = 0.00). Conclusion: Body mass index is strongly associated with lipid abnormalities and elevated blood pressure in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, reinforcing the importance of weight management in reducing metabolic and cardiovascular risks.