title: Effects of exercise and group counselling on body composition and VO2max in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is often associated with an increased waist circumference and with lower cardio-respiratory fitness as a consequence of obesity, which may be improved by physical activity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of high-intensity aerobic training combined with group counselling sessions on anthropometry and cardio-respiratory fitness in women with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen sedentary, overweight women with PCOS were randomized in a cross-over design to 16 weeks of intervention: eight weeks high-intensity aerobic exercise was followed by eight weeks of group counselling (n = 8) or vice versa (n = 9). Fourteen of the women completed the tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Waist circumference, body mass index and maximal aerobic capacity (VO(2max) ) were measured at baseline, cross-over and post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a decrease in waist circumference (119.9 vs. 106.5 cm) and body mass index (34.9 vs. 34.4 kg/m(2) ) and an increase in VO(2max)  (2554.9 vs. 2807.9 mL/min) during the intervention period (t = 16 weeks, n = 14), all p < 0.05. Weight loss tended to be highest in the group which started with group counselling (2.9 vs. 0.6 kg, t = 16 weeks, n = 14, p = 0.055).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise in groups followed by counselling or vice versa had beneficial effects on waist circumference, weight, and VO(2max)  in women with PCOS. Future studies should examine possible beneficial effects of combined group counselling and exercise on weight loss and adherence to exercise protocols among women with PCOS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense. kroessler@health.sdu.dk
authors.forename: Kirsten K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Roessler
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Birkebaek
authors.forename: Pernille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravn
authors.forename: Marianne S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Dorte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Glintborg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003376:Counseling; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015431:Weight Loss