An Interventional Study on the Effectiveness of Dietary Management among Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting women of reproductive age and is frequently associated with obesity, insulin resistance, menstrual irregularities, and hyperandrogenism. Lifestyle modification, particularly dietary management and weight reduction, is considered the first-line therapy for overweight women with PCOS. The present prospective interventional study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary management on weight reduction, metabolic parameters, menstrual cyclicity, and quality of life among overweight women with PCOS.
The study was conducted over a period of 16 weeks among 25 overweight women aged 18–35 years diagnosed with PCOS. The dietary intervention was implemented in two phases: an initial 8-week meal replacement–based energy-restricted diet (1500 ± 150 kcal/day) for weight loss, followed by an 8-week weight maintenance phase involving either moderate carbohydrate restriction or moderate fat restriction, with emphasis on a low glycemic index diet. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, menstrual cycle, dietary intake, and quality of life were assessed at baseline and at regular intervals.
The results demonstrated a significant reduction in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist–hip ratio, and mid-upper arm circumference over the study period (p < 0.001). Mean insulin levels showed a progressive decline, indicating improved insulin sensitivity. Menstrual cycle regularity improved, with a reduction in average cycle length from 37 days at baseline to 28 days at 16 weeks. The findings highlight that modest weight loss achieved through structured dietary intervention and physical activity significantly improves metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS.