Research

Energy balance

Lifestyle interventions, specifically calorie-restricted diets combined with at least 150 minutes of weekly aerobic exercise, are the first-line treatment for improving insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS.

Start with lifestyle changes before medication. Focus on eating fewer calories and aiming for 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week, ensuring at least 90 minutes are vigorous. Prioritize sleep and mental health, as these support metabolic health. If lifestyle changes are too difficult to sustain alone, consider adding insulin-sensitizing drugs like Metformin as a chronic treatment option.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The first step in managing IR is lifestyle change, which is the cornerstone of improving multiple endocrine and metabolic disorders in women with PCOS... International evidence-based guidelines recommend that all women with PCOS, especially those who are overweight or obese, engage in at least 150 min of aerobic exercise per week... Calorie-restricted diets may be the best option for reducing IR and improving body composition
Han Zhao et al. · Journal of Ovarian Research · 2023

Why this rating

The claim is based on a review of international evidence-based guidelines and multiple studies, though specific primary trial data is not detailed in this excerpt.

Source

Insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome across various tissues: an updated review of pathogenesis, evaluation, and treatment

Han Zhao et al. · Journal of Ovarian Research · 2023

DOI 10.1186/s13048-022-01091-0

narrative_reviewCited 337×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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