Over 12 weeks, 83 inactive postmenopausal breast cancer survivors using an activity tracker with coaching increased moderate to vigorous activity and reduced sitting time versus controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 83 women · 12 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 125 timesPubMed
A review of 12 studies found mobile apps and wearables increased physical activity by about 61 weekly minutes in midlife menopausal women and improved weight, anxiety, sleep and quality of life.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2022Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed
Mostly sedentary, overweight middle-aged women at work took part in a 10-minute workplace aerobic dance exercise break, with high participation but mixed effects on self-rated health and energy.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 449 women · 2004Midlife womenCited 55 timesPubMed
Sedentary, overweight postmenopausal women prescribed a yearlong moderate-intensity exercise program averaged 79 percent of the prescribed days and 87 percent of prescribed minutes per week.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 87 women · 52 weeks · 2004PostmenopausalCited 38 timesPubMed
203 postmenopausal women received personal bone density results or not over 18 months; receiving the results increased calcium intake but did not change exercise levels.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 203 women · 78 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 29 timesPubMed
In a trial of nearly 44,000 postmenopausal women, a long-term low-fat dietary intervention was associated with lower physical inactivity and slightly higher self-directed physical activity versus usual diet over about 16 years.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 43,760 women · 828 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
Women around age 58 in a breast screening program followed a 3 month lifestyle program targeting weight, activity and alcohol, and showed significant improvements in weight, BMI, waist and physical activity versus usual care.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 28 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 20 studies identified barriers and enablers, such as health complaints and social support, affecting physical activity engagement across the menopausal transition.
Direction not statedSystematic review · 2024Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed
In 225 midlife women, a 12-week web-based or face-to-face lifestyle program increased physical activity and positive exercise perceptions, with nurse-supported delivery showing greater gains.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 225 women · 12 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 15 timesPubMed
In a 6 week RCT, a health belief model and social support training program increased physical activity and self efficacy and reduced BMI in overweight middle-aged women.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 73 women · 6 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 16 timesPubMed
A church-based physical activity program for sedentary midlife women aged 35 to 65 increased energy expenditure and aerobic fitness compared with comparison groups.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 42 women · 2005Midlife womenCited 28 timesPubMed
Sedentary overweight middle-aged women followed either a 30-minutes-a-day walking goal or a 10,000-steps-a-day pedometer goal for 12 weeks, and the steps group increased activity more than the minutes group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 12 weeks · 2011Midlife womenCited 24 timesPubMed
Inactive overweight women aged 45 to 65 given interventionist-led physical activity counseling for 12 weeks increased activity more than self-guided women short term, with no significant weight difference.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 98 women · 52 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 16 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women who completed a supervised exercise trial were surveyed 12 months later, with similar activity levels in former exercise and control groups and self-efficacy predicting continued activity.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 244 women · 52 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women in a 12-week tablet-based physical activity book club attended fewer sessions than those in a face-to-face version, with technology barriers limiting engagement.
Reported a worseningRandomised trial · 30 women · 12 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 19 timesPubMed
This paper reports baseline data for a 12-month home-based physical activity print intervention in postmenopausal African American women, finding low baseline activity and high obesity rates.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 84 women · 52 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease who joined a lifestyle program combining diet, exercise and stress management showed better adherence and psychosocial measures than usual care over a year.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 52 weeks · 1998PostmenopausalCited 49 timesPubMed
In a cohort of 84,300 postmenopausal women followed up to 7 years, those who received a diabetes diagnosis reported greater increases in total physical activity and walking than women without diabetes.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 84,300 women · 364 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 34 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women aged 55 to 70 joined a 6-month program to reduce sitting time, and researchers found no significant link between DNA methylation and physical activity but some correlation with weight change.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 20 women · 26 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women underwent an 18-month lifestyle intervention with a physical activity component; the intervention group increased daily step counts and kept them more consistent across seasons than a health education group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 78 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 35 timesPubMed
A 3-month web-based physical activity program for 29 Asian American midlife women increased active living habits but did not significantly change menopausal symptom severity scores versus control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 29 women · 12 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 12 timesPubMed
A 2-year lifestyle program for postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes increased use of social support resources, which partly explained gains in physical activity and lower saturated fat intake.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 104 weeks · 2008PostmenopausalCited 27 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women who lost weight via a supervised aerobic exercise trial, reduced physical activity and increased sedentary time during follow-up were linked to weight regain.
Reported a worseningRandomised trial · 227 women · 2019PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
Previously low-active postmenopausal women who completed a 1-year exercise program remained more physically active a year later than controls, though below their peak program level.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 52 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed
In 288 overweight postmenopausal Chinese women, a 3-month theory-based education program raised physical activity and diet behavior and improved weight, waist circumference and blood pressure versus conventional education, sustained to 12 months.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 288 women · 52 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
Overweight middle-aged women followed a 2.5 year diet and exercise program; early weight loss shrank over time, but increases in physical activity grew larger over 6.6 years.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 130 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed
In 26 Asian American midlife women, a 3 month online physical activity program increased lifestyle physical activity but did not significantly change cardiovascular symptoms compared to control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 12 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed
In 320 perimenopausal women with cardiovascular risk factors, an educational workshop intervention increased physical activity and mental quality of life and prevented weight gain over 12 months versus mailed information.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 320 women · 52 weeks · 2017PerimenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
Peri and postmenopausal women with hot flushes using DVD-based or social-support exercise programs for a year showed a small quality-of-life gain, with social support likely cost-effective.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 261 women · 52 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed
In 110 inactive overweight middle-aged women, a 12-week mobile social networking program increased physical activity and reduced weight and waist and hip measures more than text messaging.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 110 women · 12 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed
In 101 postmenopausal women with obesity, severe short-term energy restriction led to greater physical activity levels at 6 months than moderate restriction, though differences were weight-dependent.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 101 women · 156 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis did a 4-month sedentary-behavior reduction program; it did not change sedentary time, activity, or most cardiometabolic and quality of life measures.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 103 women · 16 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women took part in a 24-week community physical activity promotion program and reported increased physical activity minutes and walking compared to non-participants.
Mixed resultsControlled trial · 430 women · 24 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 26 timesPubMed
A pilot trial of diet, exercise and stress management in 49 perimenopausal Latinas found the program feasible and acceptable for reducing cardiovascular risk factors over 12 months.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 49 women · 52 weeks · 2026PerimenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
In 135 postmenopausal women given a home-based exercise program after an educational session, only 17.8% complied with the program at 18 months, mainly due to lack of motivation.
Direction not statedCohort study · 135 women · 78 weeks · 2005PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed
In 146 postmenopausal women followed about 3 years, forearm bone density declined less in those who exercised regularly than in irregular exercisers or controls, but only 48% complied regularly.
Reported a worseningControlled trial · 146 women · 156 weeks · 1995PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed
In 80 middle-aged Iranian women, an education-based behavior model nearly tripled physical activity levels and reduced average BMI compared to a control group.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 80 women · 2021Midlife womenCited 11 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women in Iran who received a theory-based educational program had greater improvement in physical activity scores than a control group.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 140 women · 2021Midlife womenCited 8 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women received a 12-week community behavioral program targeting diet and physical activity, and waist circumference and activity behaviors improved over 24 weeks versus controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 46 women · 24 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed
Postmenopausal women used a 12-month digital voice assistant program including home-based exercise for osteoporosis self-management and reported it was feasible, acceptable, and sustainable.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 22 women · 52 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
In 160 middle-aged women, a theory-based educational intervention over 2 months increased self-reported physical activity scores compared with a control group.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 160 women · 8 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed
Among postmenopausal women who discontinued hormone therapy, 68% used exercise for hot flush relief, and behavioral approaches like exercise were rated more helpful than herbal remedies.
Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 10,607 women · 2015PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed
A survey of women aged 46 to 55 found most preferred one-to-one exercise support and walking, and exercise participation was not linked to frequency of hot flushes or night sweats.
Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 1,693 women · 2011Midlife womenCited 30 timesPubMed
Fifty middle-aged women took part in a six-session cognitive-behavioral physical activity program, and their total activity levels increased after the intervention and stayed higher at long-term follow-up.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 50 women · 2002Midlife womenCited 58 timesPubMed
A 5 year survey of 216 menopausal women at cardiovascular risk found self-reported aerobic exercise changed similarly regardless of baseline weight, with low participation in strength training throughout.
No difference foundCohort study · 216 women · 260 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
In 297 postmenopausal women surveyed, attitudes, norms and self-efficacy explained 44% of variance in intentions to engage in physical activity.
Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 297 women · 2011PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors self-reported leisure, strength, and walking activity; about half met activity guidelines, and activity level was not linked to quality of life scores.
Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 170 women · 2021PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed
Among 434 Korean women aged 40 to 64, depression scores and self-efficacy differed significantly across stages of readiness to change exercise behavior.
Mixed resultsCross-sectional study · 434 women · 2006Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed
Among overweight or obese breast cancer survivors entering a weight loss study, only 23% met physical activity guidelines, with higher BMI and more comorbidities linked to less activity.
Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 692 women · 2016Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed
In 100 postmenopausal women surveyed, 81% reported doing weight-bearing or resistance exercise but irregularly, and hormone therapy users reported greater exercise participation than nonusers.
Mixed resultsCross-sectional study · 100 women · 1995PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed
In 10 midlife women aged 45 to 64, a pilot study reported pedometers helped motivate increased daily physical activity and awareness of activity patterns.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 10 women · 2011Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed
In midlife women, a 6 month program using activity sensors and social connectivity increased aerobic exercise from 63 to 132 minutes per week, maintained at 6 months.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 26 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 30 timesPubMed
Low-income middle-aged women in Panama and Trinidad and Tobago completed a 6 week program to promote physical activity and healthy eating, but surveyed physical activity decreased during the project.
Reported a worseningBefore-and-after study · 200 women · 6 weeks · 2006Midlife womenCited 11 timesPubMed
A survey of 542 midlife women identified three physical activity clusters, with the least active group showing greater obesity and more negative attitudes toward exercise.
Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 542 women · 2017Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed
101 postmenopausal women in tropical Australia were surveyed, finding that exercisers had higher exercise self-efficacy than non-exercisers, which best distinguished the two groups.
Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 101 women · 2007PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast and colorectal cancer survivors did a 12-month counseling plus physical activity and diet program; breast cancer survivors averaged 7.6% weight loss, colorectal survivors 2.5%.
Mixed resultsBefore-and-after study · 48 women · 52 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women used a 12-week cell phone-based physical activity program with pedometers, and day-to-day self-efficacy predicted their daily step counts.
Direction not statedBefore-and-after study · 71 women · 12 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
In a 3 month home-based internet physical-cognitive exercise program for middle-aged obese women, body weight and BMI decreased while fitness and lower limb muscle power improved, with high adherence.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 33 women · 12 weeks · 2023Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
A UK survey of 655 women and focus groups with 24 women found activity levels often decreased during menopause, and symptoms negatively influenced motivation to exercise for over half of participants.
Reported a worseningCross-sectional study · 655 women · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
Mostly postmenopausal nurses with average age 47 tried an eight week weight management program with exercise and diet, and showed decreased body weight and increased exercise at eight weeks that lessened by three months.
Mixed resultsBefore-and-after study · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed
This protocol describes a study of postmenopausal women aged 45 to 65 following a supervised exercise programme with behaviour change support, with no results reported yet.
Direction not statedOther · 300 women · 12 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
Midlife women pilot tested activities like circuit training, Zumba, Pilates and pedometer use, ranking pedometer and Zumba as most sustainable for ongoing physical activity.
Direction not statedOther · 2016Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed
A smartphone app combining aerobic, strength and pelvic floor exercise was tested with 16 working midlife women and found low effort to use, but perceived effectiveness was rated low.
Mixed resultsOther · 16 women · 2026Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
Interviews with 26 postmenopausal breast and gynecologic cancer survivors found they preferred flexible, at-home physical activity like walking, dancing and muscle-strengthening during and after treatment.
Direction not statedOther · 26 women · 2024PostmenopausalPubMed