Losing weight can be a huge challenge, but it can be harder for women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

However, making time to workout is a crucial for managing the condition in order to improve your health.

Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Company Bayer, recently organised 'Face of Confidence Walkathon' in Bangalore, to raise awareness about the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle for women living with the condition.  

Dr Devika Gunasheela, an infertility specialist and Managing Director at the Gunasheela Surgical & Maternity Hospital & Gunasheela Fertility Centre Bangalore, explains why PCOS makes shedding the pounds hard and how to navigate through it to meet your health goals.

Weight issues and PCOS

The combination of insulin resistance and a slow metabolic rate of the body is the reason it is harder for women with PCOS to lose weight.

Insulin resistance causes glucose to build up in the bloodstream. Slow metabolism means the body takes longer to burn the excess fat created by insulin resistance.

"Insulin is a hormone which converts sugars and starches into energy, or stores it as fat," Dr Gunasheela explains. "PCOS makes it more difficult for the body to use insulin for this process."

Exercise can help improve PCOS symptoms

Powering through the obstacles and moving your body can help manage glucose and insulin. Even a simple activity like walking can help reduce waist-to-hip ratio in overweight women with PCOS.

"Exercise causes glucose to be taken from the blood and moved into the muscles, lowering the need for insulin at that time and improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin," said Dr Gunasheela.

It also helps improve insulin sensitivity, frequency of ovulation, cholesterol levels and the body composition. "These benefits are independent of weight loss; one may not lose any weight while exercising but will still feel the rewards of improvements in health," Dr Gunasheela further explained.

To get you started on your weight loss journey, here are some fun activities you might consider joining:

* Zumba
* Yoga
*  Aerobics
*  Cycling
* Hiking or walking
*  Swimming

Dr Gunasheela also recommends watching what you put in your body as nutrition goes hand in hand with exercise to improve your PCOS symptoms.