San Diego – September 24, 2026 -- A new national study finds that more than 1 in 5 people with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)—the condition recently renamed from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)—waited over five years for a formal diagnosis, with weight stigma cited as a major driver of delayed care.
The research, conducted by eating disorder treatment provider Equip in partnership with Women's Health, surveyed 1,048 women and intersex individuals in the U.S. with diagnosed or suspected PMOS. The IRB-approved study (Sterling IRB: 16473) recruited participants through CloudResearch, using bot detection and attention checks to verify data quality.
Doctors blamed weight for symptoms in 43% of diagnosed cases
Among respondents who received a diagnosis, 43% said healthcare providers attributed their symptoms entirely to their weight, a pattern they reported directly slowed their path to diagnosis. The fallout extended beyond delayed care: 40% of respondents said they avoided or postponed necessary medical visits after prior negative, weight-based interactions with providers.
Mental health distress goes largely unaddressed in routine visits
The survey found high rates of clinical-level distress—37% of respondents screened positive for depression and 48% for anxiety. Yet more than 60% said their doctors rarely or never discussed the emotional or psychological effects of the condition during appointments.
Over half of respondents screened positive for eating disorder risk
Using the SCOFF eating disorder screener, 56% of diagnosed respondents screened positive, and roughly 60% reported feeling shame or embarrassment about their relationship with food.
"The psychological and eating-related distress that comes with PMOS is so often missed simply because standard care leads providers to focus on weight as the cause of symptoms, rather than a sign of another underlying issue," said Dr. Erin Parks, Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer at Equip. She called for routine mental health and eating disorder screening to become standard in PMOS care.
Abigail Cuffey, executive editor of Women's Health, said the goal of the research and accompanying editorial package—released to coincide with PMOS Awareness Month in September—is to help patients understand what better, more holistic care should look like.