Exercise is a multifactorial treatment for PCOS, improving physiological and psychological wellbeing.
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome should be aiming to exercise more frequently to combat insulin resistance, research suggests.
A review of exercise for the management of PCOS analysed 30 studies including over 1100 participants across Australia, the US, the UK, China, Brazil, and Denmark.
It concluded that the ideal recommendations for women with PCOS should be to follow the Australian national exercise guidelines, but in order to maximise health benefits, they should aim for the top end of the suggested range and exercise daily or near-daily.
Our guidelines recommend 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, 75-150 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic activity, and muscle strengthening activities on two non-consecutive days.
For women with PCOS, this study found that the ideal recommendation is a weekly 250 minutes of moderate intensity and 150 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic exercise, as well as muscle strengthening activities on two non-consecutive days.
Researchers suggest that exercise should be daily, or at least every second day, to enhance insulin action.
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The data recommends this higher amount of exercise for women with PCOS for these main reasons:
- Metabolic health
Exercise at this level was found to improve insulin sensitivity, reducing insulin resistance that is prevalent in those with PCOS and enhancing overall metabolic health.
- Weight management
An important goal in improving PCOS symptoms is to improve body composition, such as reducing central adiposity and improving lipid profiles.
- Hormone balance
Exercise helps improve reproductive health by assisting regulation of menstrual cycles and reduction of androgen levels.
- Mental health
The psychological impact of PCOS can be profound on an individual. The positive effects on mental health that regular exercise can have on anxiety and depression reduction and the improvement of overall quality of life is a major reason to be exercising more than the minimum recommendations.
- Cardiorespiratory fitness
Considering some studies suggest that women with PCOS are at a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events, an improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness is even more important for women with PCOS.
For adolescents with PCOS, analysis of the studies showed that the ideal exercise regimen is already in line with the Australian national exercise guidelines; 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise daily, and muscle and bone strengthening activities three times a week.
Across the studies, they found no single type of exercise to be superior. Personalising exercise routines as part of a holistic and multidisciplinary care approach involving a team of medical and allied health professionals such as general practitioners, gynaecologists, dieticians, psychologists and exercise physiologists is the recommendation.
“Exercise professionals should consider the significant psychological burden, including weight stigma, and the high prevalence of comorbidities amongst individuals with PCOS and take appropriate measures to deliver safe and efficacious exercise interventions,” the authors wrote.
