The effect of a hypocaloric diet with and without exercise training on body composition, cardiometabolic risk profile, and reproductive function in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
In overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the benefits of the addition of exercise to an energy-restricted diet in further improving cardiometabolic risk factors and reproductive function has not been extensively studied.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to evaluate the effects of aerobic and aerobic-resistance exercise when combined with an energy-restricted high protein diet (5000-6000 kJ/d) on metabolic risk factors and reproductive function in women with PCOS.


METHODS
A 20-wk outpatient, randomized, parallel study was conducted in a metropolitan research clinic.


METHODS
Ninety-four overweight and obese women with PCOS (age 29.3 +/- 0.7 yr; body mass index 36.1 +/- 0.5 kg/m2) were randomized to diet only (DO; n = 30), diet and aerobic exercise (DA; n = 31), or diet and combined aerobic-resistance exercise (DC; n = 33).


METHODS
Weight, body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, hormonal status, menstrual cyclicity, and ovulatory function were assessed.


RESULTS
All interventions reduced weight (DO 8.9 +/- 1.6%, DA 10.6 +/- 1.7%, and DC 8.7 +/- 1.7%; P < 0.001) with no difference between treatments (P = 0.7, time x treatment). Fat mass decreased more (3 kg) and fat-free mass decreased less (2 kg) in DA and DC compared with DO (P < or = 0.03). Reductions in blood pressure (5.6/2.7 mm Hg), triglycerides (0.4 mmol/liter), total cholesterol (0.5 mmol/liter), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.1 mmol/liter), glucose (0.2 mmol/liter), fasting insulin (4.3 mIU/liter), testosterone (0.4 nmol/liter), and free androgen index (2.8) (P < 0.001) and improvements in SHBG (7.0 nmol/liter) and reproductive function occurred in all groups, with no difference between treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
In overweight and obese women with PCOS, the addition of aerobic or combined aerobic-resistance exercise to an energy-restricted diet improved body composition but had no additional effect on improvements in cardiometabolic, hormonal, and reproductive outcomes relative to diet alone.
Thomson
Rebecca L
RL
Australian Technology Network Centre for Metabolic Fitness and Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
Buckley
Jonathan D
JD
Noakes
Manny
M
Clifton
Peter M
PM
Norman
Robert J
RJ
Brinkworth
Grant D
GD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome