The Vicious Cycle of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Binge Eating Disorder: A Review of Metabolic, Psychological, and Iatrogenic Pathways

This review highlights the complex interplay between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED), emphasizing the metabolic, psychological, and iatrogenic factors involved. Women with PCOS are biologically predisposed to BED due to severe insulin resistance, reactive hypoglycemia, and disrupted reward pathways, which are worsened by psychosocial stress and weight stigma. Traditional weight-centric treatments often exacerbate binge eating. The review calls for a shift in management strategies, advocating for mandatory eating disorder screenings, trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral therapy, intuitive eating, and exploring new pharmacological treatments like GLP-1 receptor agonists to address the root causes of hyperphagia.