Objective To explore the therapeutic efficacy and safety of orlistat in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)and insulin resistance(IR)to provide reference for clinical medication.Methods Based on the homeostasis model as-sessment(HOMA)-IR,104 PCOS-IR patients admitted to Taizhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2020 to August 2023 were selected and divided into the control group(n=52,2 cases were lost for follow-up)and experimental group(n=52,5 cases were lost for follow-up)according to the random number table method.The patients in the control group were given ethinylestradiol and cyproterone acetate tablets,and those in the experimental group were given orlistat.The patients in both groups were treated for 3 months.Anthropometric indicators,glucose and lipid metabolism levels,hormone levels and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the BMI weight,and waist circumference of the patients in the experimental group((25.74±1.08)kg·m-2,(59.23±2.80)kg,(94.10±5.13)cm)were lower than those in the control((26.23±1.26)kg·m-2,(60.51±2.31)kg,(96.5±5.20)cm)(t=2.050,2.462,2.287,all P<0.05).After treatment,the total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),fasting blood glucose(FPG)and HOMA-IR of the patients in the experimental group were(3.86±0.73)mmol·L-1,(1.68±0.72)mmol·L-1,(3.75±0.88)mmol·L-1 and(1.61±0.37)in the experimental group and(5.12±0.13)mmol·L-1,(1.98±0.43)mmol·L-1,(4.78±0.35)mmol·L-1 and(2.78±0.43)in the control(t=12.007,2.508,7.659,14.323,all P<00.05).There was no statistically significant difference in follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)between the two groups((6.71±0.69)mIU·mL-1 vs(6.79±0.72)mIU·mL-1,t=0.558,P>00.05).The testosterone(T),luteinizing hormone(LH)and LH/FSH were(1.38±0.22)nmol·L-1,(6.24±0.78)IU·L-1,(0.93±0.15)in the experimental group,which were lower than those of(1.84±0.27)nmol·L-1,(7.12±0.83)IU·L-1,(1.05±0.17)in the control(t=9.165,5.373,3.677,all P<0.05).There was no statistically signifi-cant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(8.50%vs 10.00%,χ2=0.064,P>00.05).Conclusion In the treatment of PCOS-IR patients,orlistat can effectively reduce weight,regulate glucose and lipid metabolism and sex hormone levels,improve insulin resistance,and has good safety.