Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 5 hrs ago
Exercise can support health with PCOS but does not cure it
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, affects each woman differently and can involve irregular periods, acne and changes in weight.
Fitness expert Deepti Sharma says exercise cannot cure PCOS, but regular movement can help the body respond to insulin and support heart health.
She recommends starting with manageable activity and building consistency rather than pushing through exhausting workouts.
Strength exercises such as squats, lunges and rows are one option, with two sessions a week a reasonable starting point.
Brisk walking, cycling, swimming and dancing are examples of aerobic exercise, and high-intensity interval training is not essential.
Adults are advised to work towards 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week and strength training on at least two days.
Progress can also show in better stamina, strength or energy, even if weight does not change.
Exercise may support health for people with PCOS, but it cannot cure the condition, fitness expert Deepti Sharma says.
Sharma says regular movement can help the body respond to insulin, support heart health and make some symptoms easier to live with.
She recommends starting with manageable activity and building a consistent routine over time.
Her suggestions include strength training, brisk walking, cycling, swimming and dancing.
She says weight alone is not a reliable measure of progress.
- Who
- Deepti Sharma, director of MultiFit and an ACPT Level 5-certified professional, discussed exercise and PCOS.
- What
- Sharma said exercise can support health and ease some symptoms but cannot cure PCOS.
- When
- The article was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Sharma spoke with HT Lifestyle. A more specific location is not stated.
- Why
- Exercise can help the body respond to insulin and support heart health, Sharma said.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
It might, though exercise can’t cure PCOS.
Weight is only one measure of progress.
A routine you’ll follow beats one you dread.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Publication date
- October 12, 2026
- Expert
- Deepti Sharma
- Strength training
- Two sessions a week is a reasonable start
- Moderate aerobic activity
- 150 to 300 minutes a week for general health
- Muscle-strengthening
- At least two days a week for general health
Sources
Related news
Trainer offers guidance on starting strength training in midlife
More couples are sleeping apart to improve their rest
TODAY invites viewers to share how its health coverage affected them
Letters link wartime food scarcity with health and food waste
Creatine may support muscle performance when combined with resistance training
Chef Ivan Barros shares a chicken and lentil bowl with 66 grams of protein
Vibration plates may support exercise, but evidence is mixed
Study questions claims that heel striking and cadence increase running injury risk
Dietitians say protein powder is optional and recommend checking labels
Dermatologist lists five signs that may point to scalp problems
Muscle and liver cells may retain benefits of past exercise
