New Delhi: Yoga may offer benefits beyond weight loss for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), recently renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).Two studies led by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have found that a 12-week yoga programme improved hormone levels, insulin resistance, cholesterol profile and menstrual health, while also producing favourable metabolic changes that may help address the condition at its roots.The findings, released ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21, add scientific backing to yoga’s role in managing one of the most common hormonal disorders among women.The studies involved women diagnosed with the condition, which affects about one in eight women of reproductive age and is linked to irregular periods, infertility, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Researchers tracked participants who underwent supervised sessions of yoga, pranayama and meditation for three months. At the end of the programme, participants showed reductions in body weight, waist circumference, insulin and testosterone levels, and low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol. Menstrual cycles also became more regular.The benefits extended beyond weight loss. Researchers reported improvements in metabolic markers linked to insulin resistance and glucose control, suggesting that yoga may help address underlying abnormalities driving the condition.Prof Rima Dada of AIIMS said PMOS is a hormonal and metabolic disorder associated with infertility, obesity, diabetes and elevated testosterone levels, which can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, facial hair growth and severe acne.The study found that yoga improved not only symptoms and metabolic health but also genes linked to insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism and inflammation. Several women with long-standing infertility also conceived after joining the programme, she said.Advanced laboratory analyses showed favourable changes in biological pathways related to metabolism, inflammation and insulin signalling, factors known to play a key role in PMOS.The findings add to evidence that PMOS is a systemic metabolic condition that increases the risk of diabetes, fatty liver disease and heart disease if left unmanaged.The studies also reported an encouraging fertility trend. Among 16 women with long-standing infertility, seven conceived during the programme or within three months of completing it. Researchers cautioned that pregnancy was not a predefined outcome and said larger trials are needed to confirm the observation.Researchers said yoga could serve as a low-cost, non-drug addition to standard treatment, helping women manage both hormonal and metabolic aspects of the condition.
