Objective: To observe the prevalence and association of idiopathic hirsutism with obesity

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional, case control study

Place and Duration of Study: Dermatology Clinic, Heavy Industry Taxila Hospital Taxila from 1st July 2020 to 31st December 2020.

Methodology: Two hundred and fifty female patients and age between 12 to 50 years were enrolled. The complaint of hirsutism while their work up for secondary causes of hirsutism was negative were labelled as idiopathic hirsutism as cases and their age and gender matched healthy attendants were taken as controls. Both cases and controls were checked for body mass index and Ferriman Gallwey (FG) scores.

Results: Idiopathic hirsutism was found significantly prevalent and increased body mass index was statistically significantly associated with the idiopathic hirsutism in females. Mean age of idiopathic hirsute cases was less than 30 years. So younger females were found to be more prevalent having hirsutism with increased body mass index. Mild to moderate hirsutism was frequently observed in overweight and obese females, however severe hirsutism was rarely observed.

Conclusion: Idiopathic hirsutism is prevalent and associated with obesity in our females, so obesity management should also be addressed through referrals in derma clinics where hirsute obese/overweight female have reported.

Keywords: Obesity, Hirsutism, Body mass index (BMI), Hirsutism, Excessive hair growth