Mixed
Lifestyle interventions (diet, exercise, or behavioral) significantly improve anthropometric, metabolic, and reproductive markers in women with PCOS compared to minimal treatment.
For women with PCOS, adopting a structured lifestyle program involving diet, exercise, and behavioral strategies is a recommended first-line treatment. This approach significantly improves weight, waist circumference, insulin resistance, and testosterone levels compared to minimal advice. However, current evidence does not support lifestyle changes as a primary method for improving fertility outcomes (pregnancy/live birth) or menstrual regularity. Focus on metabolic and anthropometric benefits rather than expecting immediate fertility improvements.
Lifestyle intervention provides benefits when compared to minimal treatment for secondary reproductive, anthropometric and reproductive outcomes. These included endpoint values for total testosterone (mean difference (MD) -0.27 nmol/L...), hirsutism or excess hair growth by the Ferriman-Gallwey score (MD -1.19...), weight (MD -3.47 kg...), waist circumference (MD -1.95 cm...) and fasting insulin (MD -2.02 µU/mL...)
Why this rating
Based on a Cochrane review of 6 small RCTs (n=164) with varying risk of bias and no studies on primary fertility outcomes.
Source
Lifestyle changes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Lisa Moran et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2011
DOI 10.1002/14651858.cd007506.pub3
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