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Exercise training is recommended to improve cardiometabolic health and fertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), yet there are few randomized controlled trials on the effects of different exercise protocols on clinical reproductive outcomes. Our aim was to determine the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIT) on menstrual frequency, as a proxy of reproductive function, in women with PCOS.The IMPROV-IT study was a two-center randomized controlled trial undertaken in Norway and Australia. Women with PCOS were eligible for inclusion. After stratification for body mass index27 or ≥27 kg·m-2 and study center, participants were randomly allocated (1:1:1) to high-volume HIT (HV-HIT), low-volume HIT (LV-HIT), or a control group. Measurements were assessed at baseline, after the 16-wk exercise intervention, and at 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome was menstrual frequency after 12 months. Secondary outcomes included markers of cardiometabolic and reproductive health, quality of life, and adherence to and enjoyment of HIT.We randomly allocated 64 participants to the HV-HIT (n = 20), LV-HIT (n = 21), or control group (n = 23). There were no differences in menstrual frequency at 12 months between the LV-HIT and control groups (frequency ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73-1.42), the HV-HIT and control groups (frequency ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.67-1.29), or the LV-HIT and HV-HIT groups (frequency ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.77-1.56). Menstrual frequency increased in all groups from baseline to 12 months. More participants became pregnant in the LV-HIT group (n = 5) than in the control group (n = 0, P = 0.02).A semisupervised HIT intervention did not increase menstrual frequency in women with PCOS.Clinical Trial Registration Number:ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02419482).

IntroductionPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age and the leading cause of anovulatory infertility. Women with PCOS have a 15-fold higher prevalence of infertility, compared with women without PCOS, independent of body mass index (BMI). A healthy lifestyle is recommended to improve overall health and fertility in PCOS but there is limited evidence on the isolated effects of exercise, especially for reproductive outcomes. Previous findings indicate superior metabolic health benefits after vigorous compared with moderate-intensity exercise. Our primary aim is to determine the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIT) on menstrual frequency, as a proxy of reproductive function, in women with PCOS.Methods and analysisThe study is a two-centre, randomised, controlled trial with three parallel groups. Women (n=64) from Trondheim (Norway) and Melbourne (Australia) with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria will be randomly allocated (1:1:1) to high-volume HIT, low-volume HIT or a control group with no exercise after stratifying for BMI < or ≥ 27 kg/m2and study centre. Measurements for study end points will be undertaken at baseline, after a 16 week exercise intervention and at 12 months following baseline assessments. The primary outcome measure is menstruation frequency, measured as the number of self-reported menstrual bleedings divided by the number of expected menstrual bleedings during a 12-month period. Secondary outcome measurements include markers of cardiovascular, metabolic and reproductive health, as well as quality of life and adherence to and enjoyment of exercise.Ethics and disseminationThe Regional Committee Medical Research Ethics, Norway, and The Australian Catholic University Human Research Ethics Committee, Australia, have approved the trial protocol. This trial will provide new insight regarding the impact of exercise on fertility in PCOS. We expect this trial to contribute to new therapeutic exercise strategies as part of clinical care for women with PCOS.Trial registration numberClinical trial govNCT02419482.

Summary Objective Intensive lifestyle interventions (ILI) are criticised for ineffective obesity treatment because weight loss over time is modest and thus of limited clinical relevance. However, a subgroup (5–30%) maintains a clinical weight loss >10%, but it is not clear if cardiometabolic health follows this pattern. The aim was to study the effect of different magnitudes of weight loss maintenance after ILI on cardiometabolic health. Methods Eighty out of 2420 former participants (age: 36 ± 1, BMI: 38 ± 1, (means ±SE)) in an 11–12-week ILI were recruited into 3 groups; clinical weight loss maintenance (>10% weight loss), moderate maintenance (1–10%), and weight regain based on weight loss at follow-up (5.3 ± 0.4 years). Weight loss during the ILI was achieved by increased physical activity and hypo-caloric diet. Dual X-ray Absorptiometry, blood sample, skeletal muscle biopsy and VO 2max test were used to determine cardiometabolic health at follow-up. Results At follow-up, the clinical weight loss maintenance group scored better in the following variables compared to the other groups: BMI (31 ± 1, 33 ± 2, 43 ± 2 kg/m 2 ), composition (34 ± 2, 40 ± 1, 49 ± 1% fat), visceral adipose tissue (0.8 ± 0.2, 1.7 ± 0.5, 2.4 ± 0.4 kg), plasma triglycerides (0.8 ± 0.2, 1.3 ± 0.4, 1.6 ± 0.3 mmol/L), plasma glucose (4.9 ± 0.1, 5.9 ± 0.4, 5.9 ± 0.1 mmol/L), Hb1Ac (5.1 ± 0.0, 5.6 ± 0.2, 5.8 ± 0.2%), protein content in skeletal muscle of GLUT4 (1.5 ± 0.2, 0.9 ± 0.1, 1.0 ± 0.1 AU) and hexokinase II (1.6 ± 0.2, 1.0 ± 0.2, 0.7 ± 0.1 AU), citrate synthase activity (155 ± 6, 130 ± 5, 113 ± 5 μmol/g/min) and VO 2max (49 ± 1, 43 ± 1, 41 ± 1 mL/min/FFM) (p Conclusion Cardiometabolic health is better in participants who have maintained >10% weight loss compared to moderate weight loss and weight regain.