Abstract

 Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common metabolic and endocrine disease that affect women of reproductive age, globally. PCOS is associated with overnutrition, abdominal weight problems and insulin resistance and is prevalent in both obese and lean subjects. Obesity in PCOS seems to compound both insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, accompanied by metabolic and hormonal variations leading to anovulation, reproductive dysfunctions and pregnancy complications.

Objective: To understand the effects of nutrition, diet management and exercise training on PCOS associated with obesity and infertility and update the existing information. To identify the challenges and the research needs for future, to be considered for potential clinical interventions.

Methodology: A literature search was done through PubMed Central, Cochrane Central with keywords viz, �PCOS and Exercise� �Nutrition in PCOS or Role of Diet in PCOS�, �Physical activity or Strength Training or exercises in PCOS�, �PCOS and Obesity� and �PCOS pathogenesis�. The articles were analyzed and prepared to build and summarize the effects of nutrition and exercise in improvement of various PCOS outcomes and discuss how lifestyle modifications impact on hormonal responses and its long-term consequences.

Results: Nutrition and exercise have significant impact on various physiological systems such as metabolic, endocrine systems leading to reproductive features and functions. While trans-fat, saturated fatty acid and high glycemic load food can increase the chronic low grade inflammation leading to increased risk of subfertility, diet including whole grains, omega -3-fatty acids and micronutrients can improve the reproductive outcomes in PCOS. This calls for a good understanding of nutrition along with long-term healthy eating practices with counselling. Short-term exercise training like aerobic, resistance training and anaerobic training improved insulin sensitivity, regulates weight and fertility and uplift emotional status and can improve PCOS.

Conclusion: Healthy nutritious diet combined with exercise can be supportive therapeutic in PCOS management and help in maintaining good quality of life. Effective approaches to nutrition and exercise, shall be adopted by clinicians and healthcare professionals as therapeutics along with counselling and raising awareness on the same. More research is needed in the field of nutrigenomics, exercise science and physiology, with clinical interventions as it can bring extensive insights on therapeutic potential in endocrine, metabolic disorders, psychological issues and obesity treatment in PCOS.