Researchers looked at the medical notes of 118 teenagers with PCOS (a common hormone condition) to understand what makes it hard for them to eat healthier and exercise more. They found five main things that either help or hurt teens’ ability to make changes: how motivated they feel, whether their family supports them, what food is available at home, what tastes they like, and how confident they are in themselves. Doctors were setting an average of three health goals per teen, which might be too many at once. Understanding these challenges can help doctors and families better support teens with PCOS in making lasting healthy changes.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What makes it easy or hard for teenagers with PCOS to change their eating and exercise habits, and how many health goals doctors should set for them
  • Who participated: 118 teenagers between ages 11 and 21 who have PCOS and visited a specialized clinic for treatment and nutrition advice
  • Key finding: Five main factors affect whether teens can stick to healthy changes: their own motivation, family support, available food at home, food preferences, and confidence in their ability to succeed. Most doctors set 2-3 goals per teen, though this might be overwhelming
  • What it means for you: If you’re a teen with PCOS or a parent, knowing these five factors can help you focus on what matters most. Starting with fewer, simpler goals and getting family involved may work better than trying to change everything at once

The Research Details

Researchers reviewed the written notes that registered dietitian nutritionists (nutrition specialists) wrote down during visits with 118 teenagers who have PCOS. They looked back at these notes to find patterns about what the teens said was hard or easy about making healthy changes. The researchers used a method called “qualitative content analysis,” which means they read through all the notes and sorted the information into groups based on common themes and ideas that kept appearing. This approach is like reading through many stories and finding the main ideas that show up again and again.

The study took place at a clinic that specializes in treating PCOS in young people. The researchers carefully coded (labeled and organized) everything the teens and doctors discussed about barriers (obstacles), facilitators (helpful things), and the specific health goals that were set. They looked for patterns to understand what five main themes kept coming up across all the patient visits.

This type of research is important because it captures what teenagers actually say about their real-life challenges, rather than just testing one specific treatment. By looking at real medical notes, researchers can understand the actual obstacles teens face in their daily lives. This information helps doctors and nutritionists create better support plans that work with teens’ real situations instead of against them.

This study looked at real medical records from a specialized clinic, which means the information is based on actual patient experiences. However, because it only reviewed notes from one clinic, the results might not apply to all teens with PCOS everywhere. The study didn’t compare teens with PCOS to other groups, so we can’t say if these barriers are unique to PCOS or common to other teen health conditions. The researchers did use a careful method to organize the information and look for patterns, which makes the findings more reliable.

What the Results Show

The research found five main themes that affect whether teens with PCOS can make healthy changes. First, interest and motivation matter a lot—some teens are excited about getting healthier while others struggle to care. Second, family involvement is crucial; teens do better when parents and siblings support their efforts. Third, the food environment at home and available resources affect choices; if healthy food isn’t available or affordable, it’s much harder to eat well. Fourth, taste preferences play a role; teens are more likely to stick with changes if the healthy foods actually taste good to them. Fifth, self-efficacy (how confident teens feel about their ability to succeed) strongly influences whether they follow through on goals.

Regarding the goals themselves, doctors set an average of about 2-3 health goals per teen. Specifically, 52% of teens received three or more goals, 35% received two goals, 9% received one goal, and only 3% received no goals. The goals typically focused on three main areas: eating according to the USDA MyPlate model (which recommends balanced meals with vegetables, fruits, grains, and protein), changing how many carbohydrates teens eat, and increasing physical activity like exercise or sports.

The research suggests that while doctors want to help teens improve their diet quality, setting too many goals at once might actually make it harder for teens to succeed. Teens with PCOS face challenges that come from inside themselves (like motivation), from their relationships (like family support), and from their environment (like what food is available), all at the same time.

The study found that the barriers and facilitators for teens with PCOS are somewhat similar to those found in other teen health conditions like obesity, but also different in important ways. This makes sense because PCOS is a specific condition with its own unique challenges related to hormones and metabolism. The research also showed that the life stage of being a teenager adds extra complexity—teens are developing independence while still needing family support, which creates a unique situation different from adult women with PCOS.

Previous research on teens with obesity and adult women with PCOS identified similar barriers like motivation and family support, but this study shows that teenagers with PCOS face a unique combination of challenges. The specific context of having PCOS as a teenager—dealing with hormonal changes, body image concerns, and the condition’s effects on metabolism—creates somewhat different obstacles than what older women with PCOS experience. This suggests that treatment plans need to be tailored specifically for the teenage years.

This study only looked at medical notes from one specialized clinic, so the results might not apply to all teens with PCOS everywhere. The study didn’t include a comparison group, so we can’t say whether these barriers are unique to PCOS or common to other teen health conditions. The information came from what doctors wrote down, which might not capture everything teens experienced or felt. Additionally, the study didn’t follow teens over time to see if the goals they set actually led to lasting changes in their health.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, doctors and families should: (1) Focus on motivation by helping teens understand why healthy changes matter to them personally (moderate confidence); (2) Involve family members in supporting healthy eating and exercise, since family involvement is a key success factor (moderate-to-high confidence); (3) Work together to make healthy foods available and affordable at home (moderate confidence); (4) Find healthy foods and activities that teens actually enjoy, rather than forcing foods they dislike (moderate confidence); (5) Start with fewer goals (perhaps 1-2 instead of 3+) to avoid overwhelming teens and increase their confidence in success (moderate confidence). These recommendations should be personalized based on each teen’s specific situation.

Teenagers with PCOS should care about this research, as should their parents, guardians, and healthcare providers. Doctors, nutritionists, and counselors who work with teens with PCOS will find this information especially useful for creating better treatment plans. This research is less directly relevant to teens without PCOS or to adults with PCOS, though some of the findings about motivation and family support may apply broadly.

Making lasting healthy changes typically takes several months to a year. Teens shouldn’t expect to see major results in just a few weeks. Starting with one or two simple goals and building success over time is more realistic than trying to change everything at once. Most teens see small improvements in how they feel within 4-8 weeks if they stick with their goals, but bigger health improvements usually take 3-6 months or longer.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track one primary goal at a time (such as ‘ate vegetables at lunch’ or ‘did 30 minutes of activity’) using a simple yes/no daily checklist. This prevents overwhelm and builds confidence through visible success. Add a second goal only after maintaining the first for 2-3 weeks.
  • Use the app to set up family accountability by allowing one family member to view progress and send encouraging messages. Create a ‘favorite healthy foods’ list in the app to help teens remember which nutritious options they actually enjoy eating, making it easier to plan meals.
  • Weekly check-ins on goal progress with a focus on barriers encountered (family support available? favorite foods in stock? motivation level?). Monthly reviews to assess which of the five themes (motivation, family, resources, taste, confidence) are strongest and which need more support. Adjust goals based on what’s actually working rather than sticking with goals that aren’t realistic.

This research describes barriers and facilitators to healthy lifestyle changes in teens with PCOS but does not provide medical advice. Teenagers with PCOS should work with their own healthcare providers, including doctors and registered dietitian nutritionists, to create personalized treatment plans. The findings suggest that setting fewer, more achievable goals with family support may be helpful, but individual needs vary. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making significant changes to diet, exercise, or medical treatment. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical guidance.