Factors Influencing Physical Activity in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Comparison to Eumenorrheic Non Hirsute Women

Abstract

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. Although physical activity and weight loss has been proposed as the first line management in patients with PCOS, studies on physical activity in patients with PCOS are limited. The aims of this study were to compare levels of physical activity and its related factors between women with polycystic ovary syndrome and eumenorrheic non hirsute women. We compared the physical activity of our study group using the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), using T-test or Mann-Whitney to compare the means of two groups. Step wise multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between physical activity and body mass index and demographic factors. The results showed that physical activity levels in PCOS women compared to controls were similar; however the time spent sitting in PCOS women was significantly higher than controls; (6.94±2.2 versus 6.09±2.63 hours, P<0.001).Low levels of physical activity were reported by 59.2% of cases and 57.1% of controls. A positive association between physical activity levels and BMI (P=0.001) and age (P=0.03) was observed in PCOS women. In controls, physical activity levels was found to be associated with BMI (P=0.01), education (P=0.03) and pregnancy status (P=0.03). Considering the results of this study, it was concluded that In PCOS women, the impacts of demographic factors on physical activity may be less important than controls.

Association between self-reported sedentary behavior and health-related quality of life among infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…Although significantly difference in two domains of HRQoL including emotional disturbance and menstrual predictability between physical activity groups was found, physical activity did not significantly predict the total and domains of HRQoL after adjusting for sedentary behaviors and other related variables. In fact, most (91.5%) of participants had physical inactivity or moderate intensity of physical activity in this study, which indicated a lower level of physical active in this group and was comparable to study by Farnaz et al (90.8%) [ 49 ]. Greenwood et al found that vigorous but not moderate activity is associated with reduced odds of the metabolic syndrome in women with PCOS [ 50 ].…”

Effects of high-intensity interval training and strength training on levels of testosterone and physical activity among women with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…These exercise regimens were followed over 36 sessions over 12 weeks. For baseline assessment, a laboratory test for total serum testosterone levels was performed by taking the participants’ blood samples, the chief examiner took skinfold measurements for BF% using a body caliper, and an international physical activity questionnaire for physical activity measurement was filled out by the participants [ 16 ]. All outcome measures were reassessed at the end of the last intervention session (post intervention).…”

The effect of a theory- informed behavior change techniques incorporated into a pedometer-based intervention on physical activity and weight of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

“…There are limited studies on PA among women with PCOS, and the results are inconsistent. In some studies, the level of PA among these women was reported to be less than healthy women, while other studies did not show a significant difference in PA between women with and without PCOS (9). The obstacles such as fatigue, lack of time, lack of self-confidence to maintain PA, fear of injury, and physical limitations have reported for doing PA (8).…”