PURPOSE: The short-term effects of structured exercise on the anthropometric, cardiovascular, and metabolic parameters of non-overweight women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome were evaluated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty women with a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome were prospectively randomized to either a control group (n = 16) or a training group (n = 14) for a period of 8 weeks. Anthropometric, cardiovascular, and metabolic parameters and hormone levels were measured and compared before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Waist and hip measurements (anthropometric parameters); diastolic blood pressure; respiratory rate (cardiovascular parameters); levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin; and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (metabolic parameters) were significantly lower in the training group after 8 weeks of exercise compared to the baseline values. After exercise, the training group had significantly higher oxygen consumption and high-density lipoprotein levels and significantly shorter menstrual cycle intervals. The corresponding values for controls did not significantly differ between the start and end of the 8-week experiment. CONCLUSION: Short-term regular exercise programs can lead to improvements in anthropometric, cardiovascular, and metabolic parameters of non-overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

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