One of the benefits of having such a growing network for PCOS is that we have lots of people keeping their eyes and ears open for important information that can help our readers. This recent study was forwarded by friend Jorge Garzafox Margain, all the way from Mexico City! Thanks so much for thinking of our women, Jorge, they can definitely use this information.
This was a study in which 8 obese women with PCOS participated in an aerobic exercise program. Seven obese women who did not have PCOS also participated in the same aerobic exercise program for a way to evaluate specific interactions between PCOS and exercise. (The word obese is a clinical term and in no way intended to be judgmental…just wanted to be sure I clarified that.)
Before the exercise programs started, the women with PCOS were found to have less fat metabolism than the other women. (Probably didn't need to tell you that!) However, fat metabolism significantly improved with regular exercise training, regardless of what was going on with reproductive hormones.
So yes, it's been proven now, it's harder to break down fat and lose weight. But it's ALSO been proven that physical activity can help counter that reality of PCOS. You're not stuck there if you don't want to be. The more you move your body, the less likely one of the down sides of PCOS has to be such a downer…
Moro C, Pasarica M, Elkind-Hirsch K, Redman LM. Aerobic exercise training improves atrial natriuretic peptide and catecholamine-mediated lipolysis in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Jul;94(7):2579-86. Epub 2009 Apr 14.