Women with polycystic ovary syndrome lose the health benefits of exercise after they stop exercising, according to a study being presented as a scientific poster Tuesday, June 5, at The Endocrine Society’s 89th Annual Meeting in Toronto.

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a common hormone imbalance in young women that raises the risk of infertility, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Past research has shown that exercise improves metabolic (blood sugar and insulin) levels as well as cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) function in these women.

Until now, however, it was unknown whether the beneficial effects of exercise continue if the women stop exercising, said a study author, Dr. Francesco Orio, an endocrinologist at Parthenope University of Naples in Italy.

The Italian researchers studied 68 overweight women with PCOS who participated in a 12-week aerobic exercise program. The average age of the women was 21.5. Half the group continued exercising another 12 weeks, and the others did not. After the initial 12 weeks’ exercise, all women had lost weight and greatly improved their cardiopulmonary function and metabolic levels. The women who continued exercising another 12 weeks had further improvements in these measures. In the group that stopped exercising, the cardiopulmonary function and insulin profile worsened.

“Our research found that the exercise-induced beneficial effects were completely lost after training cessation,” Orio said. “These findings should encourage all women with PCOS to begin and follow a regular program of physical activity.”

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