2025 WCHRI Summer Student

How are eating disorders and PCOS connected?

Sophie Lalonde-Bester’s research explored the connection between a common hormonal condition, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and eating disorders. 

She helped recruit more than 300 participants, a third of whom had PCOS, and surveyed them to see if eating disorders like binge eating and bulimia are more common in this group.

“As a medical student and registered dietitian, I was drawn to this project because it combines my clinical interests with my passions for patient advocacy and research. I’ve worked closely with individuals affected by both PCOS and eating disorders and I’ve seen how often their struggles go unrecognized in health care.”

Goals:

• Use a validated survey to determine the prevalence of eating disorders among females with PCOS in Alberta.
• Compare the findings to a group of females without PCOS.
• Uncover whether binge eating and bulimia are more prevalent in females with PCOS.

Potential impact: This research could help health-care professionals better recognize and treat eating disorders in their patients with PCOS, improving care and outcomes.

Supervisor: Donna Vine, professor of human nutrition, Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science; founder of PCOS Together

Funder: Alberta Women’s Health Foundation

Interested in doing research to improve the health of women and/or children? Read more about WCHRI’s training awards for students at all levels and generous grants for researchers.