Objective To develop and evaluate dietary and exercise intervention program for overweight/obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods Seventy patients with overweight/obese PCOS were prospectively selected as research subjects and divided into intervention group (n=35) and control group (n=35) according to random number table method. According to the completion of the intervention plan, 29 cases were finally included in the intervention group and 28 cases in the control group. The control group was given conventional nursing intervention, while the intervention group was applied with the diet and exercise intervention program for overweight/obese patients with PCOS. Both groups were intervened for 3 months. The physical indicators, PCOS sign scores, natural pregnancy rate, degree of self-body image distress (Multidimensional Self-body Image Relationship Questionnaire-Appearance Subscale) and self-efficacy level (Self-efficacy Scale) before and after the intervention were compared between the two groups. The occurrence of adverse reactions during the intervention period between the two groups were compared.

Results After 1 month and 3 months of intervention, the body mass index (BMI) and PCOS sign score of the patients in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The natural conception rate of the intervention group was 34.48%(10/29), which was significantly higher than 10.71%(3/28) of the control group (P < 0.05). After 1 month and 3 months of intervention, the scores of the self-body image relationship-appearance subscale of the patients in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.001). After 3 months of intervention, the score of the Self-efficacy Scale of patients in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001). During the intervention period, no adverse reactions caused by diet and exercise intervention occurred in either group.

Conclusion Implementing a diet and exercise intervention program for overweight/obese patients with PCOS is beneficial for reducing patients' BMI, increasing the natural pregnancy rate, improving self-body image disorders, and enhancing self-efficacy.