Abstract
BackgroundThis study assessed the perceived benefits and barriers to exercise participation in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and monitored changes in response to a lifestyle intervention.MethodsForty-three overweight/obese PCOS women (Age, 30.3(6.2) yrs; BMI, 36.4(5.6) kg/m2) were randomised to one of three 20-week lifestyle programs: diet only (DO, n = 13), diet and aerobic exercise (DA, n = 11) and diet and combined aerobic-resistance exercise (DC, n = 19). Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS), weight, aerobic fitness, depression and PCOS specific health-related quality of life were measured.ResultsBarriers score was related to depression (r = 0.45, P = 0.002) and aerobic fitness (r = −0.32, P = 0.04), while benefits score was related to aerobic fitness (r = 0.41, P = 0.007). EBBS, benefits and barriers scores improved overtime (P ≤ 0.001). Benefits subscales psychological outlook and social interaction increased (P ≤ 0.001) and life enhancement and preventative health did not change (P ≥ 0.3). Physical performance increased only in DA (P = 0.009). There were no differences between treatments for any of the other subscales (P ≥ 0.2). Barriers subscales exercise milieu, time expenditure and physical exertion reduced (P ≤ 0.003) and family discouragement did not change (P = 0.6).ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that lifestyle modification consisting of an energy-restricted diet with or without exercise training improved the perceived benefits from and barriers to exercise.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12606000198527, registered 26 May 2006
Highlights
This study assessed the perceived benefits and barriers to exercise participation in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and monitored changes in response to a lifestyle intervention
Forty-three participants were included in this secondary analysis (Age, 30.3 (6.2) yrs; Body mass index (BMI), 36.4 (5.6) kg/m2; diet only (DO), n = 13; diet and aerobic exercise (DA), n = 11, diet and combined aerobic and resistance exercise (DC) = 19; Fig. 1)
There was no difference in any Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS) scores, demographics and PCOS features at baseline between those that completed and dropped out of the intervention
Summary
This study assessed the perceived benefits and barriers to exercise participation in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and monitored changes in response to a lifestyle intervention. Two important mediators of exercise behaviour change are the perceived benefits and barriers of exercise, which can positively and negatively influence participation, respectively [7]. Not surprisingly, it has been demonstrated in non-PCOS individuals that those who perceive more benefits and fewer barriers exercise regularly [8] and are Thomson et al BMC Women's Health (2016) 16:14 more active compared with those who perceive fewer benefits and more barriers [9, 10]
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