EFFICACY OF LIFESTYLE AND NUTRITIONAL COUNSELLING ON BODY COMPOSITION AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME: AN INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, with a prevalence of 7% globally and 9.13-36% in India. This condition is characterized by irregular menstruation, hyperandrogenism and obesity, with significant metabolic complications including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes. While pharmacological interventions exist, limited evidence supports lifestyle and nutritional counselling as adjunct therapy. This before-and-after interventional study evaluated the efficacy of personalized lifestyle and nutritional counselling on body composition and quality of life in 30 PCOS patients with BMI >25 kg/m² at a tertiary care hospital in Western Maharashtra. A threephase intervention spanning 12 weeks included individualized counselling using visual aids, comprehensive nutritional and lifestyle education in multiple languages and telephonic follow-up. Significant improvements were observed in body weight (mean reduction 4.12 kg, 95% CI: 3.524.72, p<0.01), BMI (mean reduction 1.60 kg/m², 95% CI: 1.38-1.82, p<0.01), body fat percentage (mean reduction 1.13%, 95% CI: 0.83-1.44, p<0.01) and time spent on physical activity (mean increase 6.17 minutes, 95% CI: -10.09 to -2.24, p<0.01). Dietary composition showed significant increases in protein intake and decreases in fat and calorie consumption. Health-related quality of life improved significantly across all domains of the PCOSQ and multiple SF-36 scales. These findings provide robust evidence that structured lifestyle and nutritional counselling effectively improves body composition and quality of life in overweight PCOS patients, offering a sustainable, non-pharmacological intervention strategy.