Effect of Structured Exercise Training Over Conventional Exercise on Physical, Reproductive and Quality of Life Among Obese College Girls With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction. To investigate and compare the preliminary effects of High Intensity Intermittent Training (HIIT), Circuit Interval Training (CIT), and conventional exercise on physical, reproductive, hormonal, and quality of life outcomes among obese college girls with polycystic ovary syndrome. Materials and Methods. Thirty participants with Polycystic ovarian syndrome aged 18-25 years diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria were randomly allocated to Group A High-Intensity Intermittent Training (n=10), Group B Circuit Interval Training (n=10), or Group C Conventional exercise (n=10). All participants completed supervised exercise sessions three times weekly for 16 weeks. Outcome measures were anthropometric parameters, reproductive hormones, menstrual characteristics, sick absenteeism, and quality of life assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF questionnaire. Results. Thirty participants completed the pilot randomized controlled trial, with 10 participants in each group, and baseline characteristics were comparable across groups. BMI showed a significant reduction over time (p < 0.001), while waist-hip ratio, waist-height ratio, body weight, and sick absenteeism showed significant group, time, and group × time effects (p < 0.01). Preliminary between-group patterns indicated greater reductions in these outcomes in the interval training groups, particularly Group A (HIIT). Significant changes were also observed in SHBG, FSH, and LH (p < 0.001), with more pronounced changes in SHBG and LH in Group A. Menstrual flow, cycle length, and dysmenorrhea showed significant changes following the intervention, with greater numerical improvements observed in the interval training groups. Menstrual regularity increased from 10% to 60% in Group B (CIT), while ovulation increased from 50% to 100% in the same group. Quality-of-life scores showed improvements in the physical, psychological, and environmental domains, with patterns favoring the intervention groups. These preliminary findings suggest that interval-based exercise may have potential benefits for selected physical, reproductive, and quality-of-life outcomes in women with Polycystic ovarian syndrome. Conclusions. These findings suggest that interval based exercise as non-pharmacological strategy for managing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in obese college girls. Larger randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings and establish exercise rehabilitation.