Research

Energy balance

Combining dietary caloric restriction with exercise yields greater fat loss and lean mass preservation than diet or exercise alone in PCOS.

To lose fat and keep muscle in PCOS, do not rely on exercise alone. Create a modest calorie deficit (500-750 kcal/day) and engage in 150-300 minutes of moderate exercise or 75-150 minutes of vigorous exercise weekly, plus two days of resistance training. This combination is superior to either method in isolation.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
The available evidence suggests that in the pursuit of weight loss, the greatest results are from the synergistic effects of dietary changes combined with exercise intervention.
Giorgia Elisabeth Colombo et al. · Seminars in Reproductive Medicine · 2023

Why this rating

Based on a narrative review citing systematic reviews and meta-analyses, but specific primary trial data is not detailed in this text.

Source

Diet and Exercise in the Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Practical Considerations for Person-Centered Care

Giorgia Elisabeth Colombo et al. · Seminars in Reproductive Medicine · 2023

DOI 10.1055/s-0043-1777116

narrative_reviewCited 9×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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