Body fat and weight: what 497 studies found

• Reported an improvement 363
• No difference found 54
• Mixed results 40
• Reported a worsening 7
• Direction not stated 33

Narrow by exercise type:

• Exercise with diet 148
• Resistance training 142
• Other aerobic exercise 133
• Aerobic plus resistance 90
• General physical activity 75
• Walking 62
• Exercise with supplements 40
• High-intensity intervals 26
• Other exercise 13
• Yoga 11
• Whole-body vibration 11
• Impact and jumping 9
• Balance and functional training 9
• Water-based exercise 8
• Stretching 7
• Exercise with hormone therapy 7
• Pilates 3
• Tai chi and qigong 2

1. A meta-analysis of 20 trials in overweight breast cancer survivors found diet plus exercise programmes reduced weight, BMI and waist size, and improved quality of life.

   Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,028 participants pooled · 2020Midlife womenCited 67 timesPubMed

2. A meta-analysis of 101 trials with 5,697 postmenopausal women found aerobic training reduced fat mass and resistance training increased muscle mass, with combined training offering both benefits.

   Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 5,697 participants pooled · 2023PostmenopausalCited 28 timesPubMed

3. A meta-analysis of 39 RCTs in postmenopausal women found exercise training improved waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL, glucose, and blood pressure, with combined training most effective.

   Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,132 participants pooled · 2023PostmenopausalCited 33 timesPubMed

4. A meta-analysis of 38 studies found high-intensity interval training reduced weight and fat mass in women, but effects on weight and fat mass were only significant before menopause, not after.

   Mixed resultsMeta-analysis · 959 participants pooled · 2020Midlife womenCited 29 timesPubMed

5. A meta-analysis of resistance training in postmenopausal and elderly women, averaging 16 weeks, found small to moderate increases in lean body mass but no significant change in fat mass.

   No difference foundMeta-analysis · 745 participants pooled · 16 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 27 timesPubMed

6. A meta-analysis of 7 RCTs found programmed exercise for 3 to 4 months lowered insulin levels, HOMA-IR, BMI and body fat in postmenopausal women, while longer programs mainly reduced waist circumference.

   Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 580 participants pooled · 24 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed

7. A review of 28 randomised trials in postmenopausal women aged 50 to 65 found walking combined with resistance training could preserve weight and bone density and increase muscle strength.

   Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2,646 participants pooled · 2004Early postmenopausalCited 219 timesPubMed

8. A meta-analysis of 12 trials found resistance training in postmenopausal women improved functional capacity, bone density, and reduced hot flash frequency and fat mass versus no exercise.

   Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 452 participants pooled · 16 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed

9. A meta-analysis of 17 randomized trials in menopausal women found exercise improved body fat, waist circumference, triglycerides, and lumbar spine bone density compared with no exercise.

   Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 792 participants pooled · 2018Midlife womenCited 16 timesPubMed

10. A meta-analysis of 24 RCTs in menopausal women found yoga improved menopausal symptoms, sleep, anxiety, depression, BMI and blood pressure, but not hot flushes or quality of life.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,028 participants pooled · 2025Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed

11. A meta-analysis of 11 trials in overweight or obese peri and postmenopausal women found exercise alone reduced body weight less than diet, but adding exercise to diet increased weight and fat loss.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2018Midlife womenCited 53 timesPubMed

12. A meta-analysis of 31 trials in middle-aged women found combined aerobic and resistance exercise reduced waist circumference and blood pressure, while aerobic alone did not reduce body weight and resistance alone had no significant effect.

    Mixed resultsMeta-analysis · 2,202 participants pooled · 2021Midlife womenCited 7 timesPubMed

13. A meta-analysis of 7 studies found premenopausal and postmenopausal women lost similar amounts of weight, fat and lean mass during diet, with or without exercise, interventions.

    No difference foundMeta-analysis · 791 participants pooled · 2020Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed

14. A meta-analysis of 59 trials in postmenopausal women aged 45 to 78 found aerobic training improved blood pressure, BMI, waist circumference, body fat, cholesterol and fitness, with very low certainty evidence.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 4,225 participants pooled · 2024PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed

15. A meta-analysis of 15 RCTs with 1,110 middle-aged women found aerobic exercise reduced waist circumference and blood glucose and increased VO2 max.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,110 participants pooled · 2022Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed

16. A meta-analysis of 8 trials found walking programs of at least 4 weeks reduced BMI, body weight and body fat percentage in previously inactive perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 4 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 23 timesPubMed

17. A review of 52 studies in overweight middle-aged and older adults found exercise, mainly aerobic training, helped preserve fat-free mass during weight loss from calorie restriction, more than restriction alone.

    Direction not statedSystematic review · 2010PostmenopausalCited 262 timesPubMed

18. A meta-analysis found whey protein combined with resistance training improved biceps strength and lower limb lean mass in postmenopausal women, but had no benefit without resistance training.

    No difference foundMeta-analysis · 2022PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed

19. A meta-analysis of 20 trials in overweight or obese postmenopausal and older women found resistance training improved body fat, metabolic risk and inflammation, with higher training volume giving larger glucose and inflammation improvements.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2024PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed

20. A meta-analysis of 12 trials in postmenopausal women found resistance training reduced C-reactive protein and improved lipid profile but had little effect on waist circumference.

    No difference foundMeta-analysis · 482 participants pooled · 2022PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed

21. A meta-analysis of 23 trials in 1001 postmenopausal women found concurrent aerobic and resistance training modestly improved body composition and metabolic markers, with no significant change in inflammation markers.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,001 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed

22. A network meta-analysis of 142 trials in postmenopausal women found combined training, aerobic exercise, resistance training and mind-body exercise each improved different metabolic syndrome risk factors.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 7,967 participants pooled · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

23. A meta-analysis of 16 studies found circuit resistance training improved strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and body composition in middle-aged and older women compared with controls.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2022Midlife womenCited 11 timesPubMed

24. A meta-analysis of 126 studies in 4019 women found resistance training improved strength and reduced fat mass similarly in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, with no significant subgroup difference.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 4,019 participants pooled · 2026Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed

25. A review of trials in women aged 40 to 60 found counseling interventions produced favorable weight changes versus control in 4 of 5 trials, but not in 2 exercise trials.

    No difference foundSystematic review · 51,638 participants pooled · 2022Midlife womenCited 12 timesPubMed

26. A meta-analysis of 12 RCTs found resistance training significantly improved maximal oxygen uptake and upper and lower body strength in healthy postmenopausal women, with less clear effects on bone density.

    Mixed resultsMeta-analysis · 2024PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

27. Overweight to obese postmenopausal women followed diet, exercise, or both for one year; combined diet and exercise produced the greatest weight loss, exercise alone a smaller loss.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 399 women · 52 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 320 timesPubMed

28. A meta-analysis of 17 RCTs in postmenopausal women with sarcopenia found exercise interventions improved muscle mass, strength and physical function such as gait speed.

    No difference foundMeta-analysis · 744 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

29. A meta-analysis of 11 trials in women aged 60 and over with sarcopenic obesity found exercise reduced body fat percentage and improved muscle mass and handgrip strength, with no change in gait speed.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 532 participants pooled · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

30. A meta-analysis of 17 studies found plaza dancing reduced body weight, BMI, body fat, blood pressure and cholesterol, and improved vital capacity in middle-aged and older women.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2025Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed

31. A meta-analysis of 19 studies found resistance training combined with vitamin D supplementation had a positive effect on body composition and physical activity capacity in middle-aged women with sarcopenia.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2021Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed

32. A review of seven RCTs in women aged 40 to 60 found counseling interventions modestly reduced weight gain, while exercise-only trials showed no differences and higher fall rates.

    Mixed resultsSystematic review · 51,638 participants pooled · 2022Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed

33. Postmenopausal women with abnormal cholesterol did one year of aerobic exercise, diet, or both; diet plus exercise reduced LDL cholesterol while exercise alone did not change weight or diet.

    No difference foundRandomised trial · 180 women · 52 weeks · 1998Midlife womenCited 328 timesPubMed

34. Sedentary, overweight postmenopausal women doing a year of moderate-intensity exercise, mostly walking, lost more body weight and body fat than a stretching control group.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 168 women · 52 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 292 timesPubMed

35. Sedentary overweight postmenopausal women exercised at three doses for 6 months and all exercise groups significantly reduced waist circumference, with higher doses showing less weight loss than predicted.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 411 women · 26 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 182 timesPubMed

36. A review found that 12 to 16 weeks of recreational football training in women aged 18 to 65 improved aerobic fitness, blood pressure, fat loss, lipid profile and bone mineralisation.

    Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2018Midlife womenCited 45 timesPubMed

37. In obese postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes, 16 weeks of aerobic training combined with resistance training improved glucose disposal more than aerobic exercise alone.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 28 women · 16 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 307 timesPubMed

38. Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on letrozole given a 24 month telephone-based diet and physical activity programme lost significantly more weight than those given health information alone, with no harm to quality of life.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 338 women · 104 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 133 timesPubMed

39. Postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes following a 6-month Mediterranean lifestyle program combining diet, exercise and stress management reported improved blood sugar control, BMI and quality of life versus usual care.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 279 women · 26 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 168 timesPubMed

40. A review of 5 RCTs in overweight and obese postmenopausal women found long-term physical activity interventions improved adiposity and physical capacity, while mental health outcomes did not change significantly.

    Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2016PostmenopausalCited 33 timesPubMed

41. Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors did 1 year of thrice-weekly resistance plus impact training, and researchers found preserved spine bone density and increased lean mass compared to a stretching control group.

    Direction not statedRandomised trial · 106 women · 52 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 144 timesPubMed

42. Overweight postmenopausal women did 12 months of diet, aerobic exercise, or both; diet and diet plus exercise raised adiponectin and lowered leptin, exercise alone had smaller effects.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 439 women · 52 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 100 timesPubMed

43. A systematic review of three studies found that exercise combined with dietary interventions during the menopause transition may limit increases in body fat and weight gain.

    Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2014PerimenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed

44. In 535 premenopausal women followed 4.5 years, a diet and physical activity lifestyle program prevented weight gain and reduced waist circumference compared with controls through the menopause transition.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 507 women · 235 weeks · 2003Midlife womenCited 114 timesPubMed

45. In 101 postmenopausal women with obesity over 12 months, severe energy restriction caused greater weight and fat loss than moderate restriction but also greater hip bone density loss, with no difference in handgrip strength.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 101 women · 52 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 103 timesPubMed

46. Overweight postmenopausal women did moderate or vigorous treadmill walking for 20 weeks during calorie restriction; both exercise groups preserved lean mass but showed no extra loss of abdominal fat versus diet alone.

    No difference foundRandomised trial · 95 women · 20 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 128 timesPubMed

47. 439 overweight postmenopausal women did 12 months of diet, exercise, or both; vitamin D levels did not differ by group but rose more with greater weight loss.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 439 women · 52 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 86 timesPubMed

48. In 173 overweight sedentary postmenopausal women, 12 months of moderate aerobic exercise lowered insulin and leptin levels compared with a stretching control group.

    Direction not statedRandomised trial · 173 women · 52 weeks · 2005PostmenopausalCited 117 timesPubMed

49. In 75 inactive postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, 6 months of moderate aerobic exercise reduced body fat, increased lean mass, and maintained bone density compared with usual care.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 75 women · 26 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 123 timesPubMed

50. Over 54 months, women given a diet and physical activity program going through perimenopause to postmenopause had smaller LDL cholesterol increases, less weight gain, and smaller waist circumference increase than an assessment-only group.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 535 women · 234 weeks · 2001Midlife womenCited 99 timesPubMed

51. Overweight postmenopausal women on a 12 week calorie restricted diet with added aerobic and resistance exercise lost more fat and preserved lean mass compared to diet alone.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 118 women · 12 weeks · 1993PostmenopausalCited 155 timesPubMed

52. A 6-month aerobic exercise program in overweight postmenopausal women with elevated blood pressure increased fitness and reduced weight and waist circumference but did not change blood pressure or lipid or inflammatory markers.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 267 women · 26 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 90 timesPubMed

53. Postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes did diet, exercise, or both for 14 weeks; CRP fell with all approaches but exercise alone changed weight and leptin only slightly.

    Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 33 women · 14 weeks · 2005PostmenopausalCited 150 timesPubMed

54. In 115 obese or overweight sedentary postmenopausal women, a yearlong moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program reduced C-reactive protein by 10% versus an increase in stretching controls.

    No difference foundRandomised trial · 115 women · 52 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 106 timesPubMed

55. Obese postmenopausal women did 6 months of hypocaloric diet with or without exercise; diet plus exercise, but not diet alone, lowered CRP and other inflammatory markers.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 34 women · 26 weeks · 2004PostmenopausalCited 149 timesPubMed

56. A meta-analysis of 23 randomized trials found resistance training reduced body fat and increased fat-free mass in postmenopausal, overweight or sedentary women.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2020Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed

57. Overweight postmenopausal women did aerobic exercise five days a week for a year, gaining fitness and losing weight, with oxidative stress markers decreasing most in those with the largest fitness gains.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 173 women · 52 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 88 timesPubMed

58. Sedentary postmenopausal women who did a year of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise about 3.6 days per week lost more body weight and body fat than controls.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 320 women · 52 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 75 timesPubMed

59. In 173 sedentary overweight postmenopausal women randomized to a one year aerobic exercise program or stretching, exercisers lost weight and showed a progressive rise in ghrelin levels.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 168 women · 52 weeks · 2005PostmenopausalCited 98 timesPubMed

60. Breast cancer survivors with premature menopause did a year of impact plus resistance training, which improved hip bone density and limited fat gain compared with a placebo exercise group among those over a year postmenopausal.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 71 women · 52 weeks · 2013Early postmenopausalCited 96 timesPubMed

61. A systematic review of nine studies found exercise, often combined with diet, was associated with weight loss or weight maintenance in postmenopausal women and older adults.

    Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2012PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed

62. Overweight postmenopausal women lost weight over 16 weeks via diet or mainly exercise, and exercise produced greater fat loss, preserved lean mass, and some differences in sex hormones compared to diet.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 243 women · 16 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 66 timesPubMed

63. Perimenopausal women who lost weight were randomized to an internet or self directed weight maintenance program tracking diet and exercise, and both groups regained similar small amounts of weight over 12 months.

    No difference foundRandomised trial · 135 women · 52 weeks · 2008PerimenopausalCited 87 timesPubMed

64. In obese postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, 16 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance exercise reduced adipose tissue inflammatory markers and improved body composition versus controls.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 women · 16 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 99 timesPubMed

65. In 107 overweight postmenopausal women over 6 months, adding resistance training to calorie restriction reduced body fat more but did not further improve lipids, insulin or inflammation markers versus diet alone.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 107 women · 26 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 87 timesPubMed

66. Postmenopausal Japanese women who walked 45 minutes 3 times weekly for a year had reduced fat mass, increased HDL cholesterol, and less bone loss at the hip.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 136 women · 52 weeks · 2006Early postmenopausalCited 87 timesPubMed

67. Sedentary middle-aged women did 10 weeks of resistance training using elastic bands or weight machines, both of which reduced fat mass and increased fat-free mass and function.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 45 women · 10 weeks · 2008Midlife womenCited 103 timesPubMed

68. Postmenopausal women with mild knee osteoarthritis did 4 months of intensive aquatic resistance training and showed decreased fat mass and faster walking speed, with walking speed gains maintained at 12 months.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 87 women · 16 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 72 timesPubMed

69. Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors did 12 months of combined aerobic and resistance exercise, which increased lean mass and lowered body fat and BMI versus usual care; bone density did not differ.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 121 women · 52 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 67 timesPubMed

70. Twenty three obese postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of resistance training and researchers found increased strength and reduced C-reactive protein, leptin and TNF-alpha, with no change in body composition.

    No difference foundRandomised trial · 23 women · 12 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 103 timesPubMed

71. In postmenopausal Japanese women over 24 weeks, walking combined with isoflavone intake increased HDL cholesterol and decreased body fat, with bone density effects depending on equol-producer status.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 128 women · 24 weeks · 2006PostmenopausalCited 82 timesPubMed

72. Postmenopausal women in an 18-month diet and physical activity program lost about 17 pounds and showed improved cholesterol, insulin and glucose compared to a health education group.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 508 women · 78 weeks · 2006PostmenopausalCited 62 timesPubMed

73. Inactive postmenopausal women did 150 or 300 minutes per week of aerobic exercise for a year, and the higher volume group lost more total body fat.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 384 women · 52 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 53 timesPubMed

74. 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

75. In 535 premenopausal women aged 44 to 50, a 6-month diet and physical activity program reduced weight, cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar compared with no intervention.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 520 women · 26 weeks · 1995PerimenopausalCited 78 timesPubMed

76. Postmenopausal women aged around 68 did 18 months of twice-weekly aerobic and strength training with or without vibration; lean mass improved and vibration slightly favored leg strength gains.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 151 women · 78 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 65 timesPubMed

77. Overweight postmenopausal women who walked three times weekly for 12 weeks with or without an EGCG supplement showed reduced waist circumference and body fat, with no difference between supplement and placebo.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 38 women · 12 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 95 timesPubMed

78. Obese postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of low-intensity resistance training with or without diet, and researchers found resistance training combined with diet improved arterial stiffness and muscle strength while preserving lean mass.

    Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 41 women · 12 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 79 timesPubMed

79. Overweight women with urinary incontinence did a 6-month behavioral weight loss program versus health education, with weight loss linked to improved hot flush bother, though physical activity change itself was not related.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 338 women · 26 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 54 timesPubMed

80. Overweight premenopausal women aged 25 to 44 who did twice weekly strength training for 2 years had greater reductions in percentage body fat than a standard care comparison group.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 164 women · 104 weeks · 2007OtherCited 67 timesPubMed

81. In 279 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes, a 6 month lifestyle program improved physical activity, diet, stress management and weight loss compared with usual care.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 279 women · 26 weeks · 2005PostmenopausalCited 62 timesPubMed

82. Women averaging 69 years did an 18 month multipurpose exercise program and researchers reported increased lean mass and strength and reduced body fat compared to an active control group.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 246 women · 78 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 56 timesPubMed

83. In 20 postmenopausal women with hypertension, 12 weeks of combined resistance and aerobic exercise improved blood pressure, arterial stiffness, fitness and body composition versus no exercise.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 women · 12 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 78 timesPubMed

84. Overweight postmenopausal women did 6 months of resistance and aerobic exercise with or without soy isoflavones; exercise reduced fat mass and increased lean mass, with no added benefit from isoflavones.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 100 women · 26 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 65 timesPubMed

85. Sedentary postmenopausal women walked five days a week for 24 weeks at varying low doses; all groups improved aerobic fitness and body fat percentage versus controls, with no BMI change.

    Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 116 women · 24 weeks · 2002PostmenopausalCited 77 timesPubMed

86. Postmenopausal women did low or high volume resistance training three times weekly for 16 weeks, and both groups gained strength while high volume training reduced waist size, cholesterol and inflammation more.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 32 women · 16 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 70 timesPubMed

87. Sedentary overweight postmenopausal women did a year-long moderate-intensity physical activity program versus stretching, with limited evidence that sleep changes affected exercise-related weight, ghrelin or leptin changes.

    Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 173 women · 52 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 59 timesPubMed

88. Overweight postmenopausal women underwent diet and exercise weight loss programs for up to a year, reporting that weight loss was linked to a modest decrease in total body bone mineral density.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 67 women · 52 weeks · 2000PostmenopausalCited 82 timesPubMed

89. Obese postmenopausal women aged 55 to 75 did 3 months of resistance training, caloric restriction, both or neither, and resistance training alone improved physical capacity scores more than the other groups.

    No difference foundRandomised trial · 48 women · 12 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 70 timesPubMed

90. In postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity, 12 months of diet or diet plus exercise reduced disordered eating scores, while exercise alone did not change eating behaviors versus control.

    Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 439 women · 52 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 35 timesPubMed

91. Sedentary postmenopausal women did 24 weeks of aquatic resistance exercise or elastic band training, both reducing body fat and blood pressure and improving strength and fitness tests similarly.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 46 women · 24 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 69 timesPubMed

92. 92 postmenopausal women with obesity did diet, physical-cognitive exercise, or both for 3 months, and exercise groups showed improved memory, BDNF, insulin and body fat versus controls.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 92 women · 12 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 42 timesPubMed

93. A meta-analysis of 18 RCTs found combined aerobic and resistance training reduced visceral and subcutaneous fat in people with overweight or obesity, with authors noting relevance for postmenopausal women.

    Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2026Midlife womenPubMed

94. A meta-analysis of 20 randomized trials in postmenopausal women found exercise based rehabilitation reduced vasomotor symptoms but showed no significant pooled effect on BMI, blood pressure, or physical performance.

    No difference foundMeta-analysis · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed

95. Postmenopausal women did 6 months of moderate intensity exercise, and weight loss and aerobic fitness both improved, with some variation by FTO genotype.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 234 women · 26 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 48 timesPubMed

96. Breast cancer survivors did a 12-month remote diet and physical activity weight loss program and reported greater reductions in weight, fat mass, waist size, glucose and musculoskeletal pain than usual care.

    Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 159 women · 52 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 40 timesPubMed

97. Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors did one year of resistance training versus placebo control, and those who gained strength or lost weight showed reduced inflammatory markers like CRP.

    Direction not statedRandomised trial · 215 women · 52 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 40 timesPubMed

98. In 421 sedentary postmenopausal women, 6 months of aerobic exercise at three different doses did not improve C-reactive protein, though weight loss was linked to CRP improvement.

    Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 421 women · 26 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 42 timesPubMed

99. Obese postmenopausal women following a calorie-restricted diet and exercise, with or without soy isoflavones, for 6 months showed lower leptin and TNF-alpha, with adiponectin rising only in the soy group.

    Direction not statedRandomised trial · 87 women · 26 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 56 timesPubMed

100. Over 14 weeks, postmenopausal women adding whole-body electromyostimulation to their usual endurance and strength training maintained resting metabolic rate and gained more strength than controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 14 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 71 timesPubMed

101. Postmenopausal women aged 40 to 66 did a 1 year supervised resistance training program and gained lean mass and strength, with fat loss seen mainly in those also on hormone therapy.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 233 women · 52 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 55 timesPubMed

102. Overweight postmenopausal women did 12 months of diet, aerobic exercise, or both, and aerobic exercise preserved lean mass while diet alone reduced it.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 439 women · 52 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 38 timesPubMed

103. Obese postmenopausal Korean women did 16 weeks of yoga exercise and showed reduced body fat, blood pressure and insulin resistance, with increased HDL cholesterol and adiponectin, versus a no-exercise control group.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 16 women · 16 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 75 timesPubMed

104. In postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, 6 weeks of interval or continuous aerobic training both improved cardiorespiratory fitness by about 12%, with interval training also improving strength and weight more.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 33 women · 6 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 58 timesPubMed

105. Overweight postmenopausal women were randomized to diet, exercise or combined diet plus exercise for six months and researchers found exercise alone produced a mean 2.5 kg weight loss and changes in adipose tissue gene expression correlated with weight loss.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 45 women · 26 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 58 timesPubMed

106. Postmenopausal women who did 12 months of resistance and weight-bearing aerobic exercise gained lean mass and lost leg fat, regardless of hormone therapy use or changes in hormone levels.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 94 women · 52 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 63 timesPubMed

107. A meta-analysis of postmenopausal women found physical exercise training reduced fat mass compared to placebo, and combining hormone therapy with exercise best reduced fat mass while preserving lean mass.

     Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2022PostmenopausalPubMed

108. Sedentary postmenopausal women did a year of aerobic exercise five days a week, and nondense fatty breast tissue decreased relative to controls while dense breast tissue did not differ significantly.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 320 women · 52 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 40 timesPubMed

109. Postmenopausal women with fatty liver disease did 24 weeks of supervised aerobic activity, reducing waist circumference, raising HDL cholesterol, and improving fitness versus controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 24 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 51 timesPubMed

110. In 46 postmenopausal women, 16 weeks of resistance training with or without soy protein increased muscle mass and reduced waist circumference, while soy alone lowered cholesterol and LDL.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 46 women · 16 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 61 timesPubMed

111. Overweight postmenopausal women did 20 weeks of calorie restriction with or without aerobic exercise, and adding exercise raised blood adiponectin levels despite similar weight loss.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 70 women · 20 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 45 timesPubMed

112. Women aged 30 to 50 doing twice-weekly strength training for 39 weeks gained more fat-free mass and lost more fat mass than controls, but did not lose significant weight.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 60 women · 39 weeks · 2003Midlife womenCited 61 timesPubMed

113. Obese postmenopausal women did six months of exercise with or without isoflavone supplementation, and exercise plus isoflavone reduced body weight and abdominal fat more than exercise alone.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 50 women · 26 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 57 timesPubMed

114. Postmenopausal women walked 3 or 5 days a week for 24 weeks, and authors reported both increased aerobic fitness and decreased body fat, with no change in serum lipids.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 56 women · 24 weeks · 1996PostmenopausalCited 72 timesPubMed

115. Healthy postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of resistance training three times weekly; it lowered metabolic syndrome risk score, fasting glucose, and body fat, and increased strength and lean mass.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 women · 16 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 59 timesPubMed

116. Postmenopausal women with heart disease followed a lifestyle program combining diet, exercise and stress management for 24 months, reporting improved body mass and quality of life versus usual care.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 28 women · 104 weeks · 2000PostmenopausalCited 75 timesPubMed

117. In overweight postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of HIIT or HIIT plus resistance training reduced abdominal and visceral fat more than moderate-intensity continuous training.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 27 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 47 timesPubMed

118. Obese postmenopausal women with high blood pressure did 8 weeks of whole-body vibration training with or without L-citrulline, and vibration training increased leg strength and lowered leg artery stiffness.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 41 women · 8 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 48 timesPubMed

119. Overweight postmenopausal women did 12 months of exercise, diet, or both, and diet-based weight loss groups showed a small increase in the IGF-I to IGFBP-3 ratio versus control.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 439 women · 52 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 31 timesPubMed

120. Early postmenopausal women with osteopenia doing high-intensity weight-bearing resistance training three times weekly for about 13 months improved spine bone density, lean mass, body fat, strength and menopausal symptoms versus low-intensity controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 54 women · 56 weeks · 2021Early postmenopausalCited 38 timesPubMed

121. In obese postmenopausal women, both aerobic and combined aerobic plus strength training reduced body fat and increased fat-free mass, with combined training producing a greater fat percentage reduction.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 2016PostmenopausalCited 41 timesPubMed

122. Previously low active middle aged women who did a four month walking or yoga program did not improve overall self-esteem but reported gains in esteem related to physical condition and body attractiveness.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 164 women · 16 weeks · 2007Midlife womenCited 42 timesPubMed

123. Overweight and obese women who added aerobic exercise to a 14-week diet program lost more intra-abdominal fat on CT scans than those on diet alone.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 209 women · 14 weeks · 2005Midlife womenCited 39 timesPubMed

124. Overweight middle-aged women trained at their maximal fat oxidation intensity five days a week for 10 weeks and showed reduced body fat, weight and triglycerides compared to controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 10 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 44 timesPubMed

125. Postmenopausal women aged 65 plus took ultra-low-dose estrogen or placebo with calcium and vitamin D for 3 years, with no change found in muscle mass, body fat or physical performance.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 167 women · 156 weeks · 2005PostmenopausalCited 40 timesPubMed

126. Perimenopausal women who walked briskly three or more times weekly for 12 weeks reported greater reductions in menopausal symptom scores, cholesterol, triglycerides and weight than controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 111 women · 12 weeks · 2014PerimenopausalCited 35 timesPubMed

127. Overweight postmenopausal women with a history of weight cycling who did a 12-month diet and/or aerobic exercise program improved insulin resistance as much as non-cyclers, with no difference in adherence.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 439 women · 52 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 27 timesPubMed

128. In women aged 50 to 70 with raised BMI, a volunteer delivered diet and walking programme produced greater weight loss at 12 months than usual care but no significant difference in step counts.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 560 women · 52 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed

129. A review of 15 intervention studies found that physical activity combined with calorie-restricted diets in postmenopausal women generally reduced body weight, fat mass and waist size and improved blood sugar and fitness.

     Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2010PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

130. Overweight postmenopausal women followed a calorie restricted diet with or without combined aerobic and anaerobic exercise for 12 weeks, and diet reduced clotting-related blood markers with no added effect from exercise.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 121 women · 12 weeks · 1996PostmenopausalCited 52 timesPubMed

131. Overweight postmenopausal women following diet or exercise plus diet for 16 weeks lost similar weight, but subcutaneous fat loss was greater when exercise was combined with diet.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 243 women · 16 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed

132. In 90 midlife women aged 40 to 65 who completed a 24-week home-based walking program, adherence during a later maintenance phase averaged 64% of expected walks.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 90 women · 48 weeks · 2005Midlife womenCited 44 timesPubMed

133. Sedentary postmenopausal women did a 12-month combined aerobic and strength program; weight did not change but body fat and waist circumference decreased and lean mass increased versus controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 189 women · 52 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 34 timesPubMed

134. In postmenopausal women with stage 1 hypertension, 12 weeks of resistance band training raised estradiol and other hormones, lowered systolic blood pressure and body fat, and increased lean mass.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 41 timesPubMed

135. Obese women averaging 56 years old did 6 months of resistance training three times versus once weekly, and the higher-frequency group showed greater gains in handgrip strength and phase angle.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 42 women · 24 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 35 timesPubMed

136. Overweight, glucose-intolerant postmenopausal women assigned to an intensive lifestyle program with weight loss and 150 minutes weekly exercise had small FSH increases linked to weight loss over one year.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 382 women · 52 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 25 timesPubMed

137. In obese postmenopausal women, 16 weeks of aerobic exercise reduced body fat, glucose, insulin and blood pressure, and raised sex hormone binding globulin, versus no change in controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 16 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 45 timesPubMed

138. Overweight postmenopausal women lost about 5 to 6 percent of body weight via diet or exercise over 16 weeks, and exercise produced greater self-reported health improvement than diet.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 214 women · 16 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 28 timesPubMed

139. Postmenopausal women did a 1-year exercise and/or low-fat diet program, and metabolic syndrome score improved with exercise, diet or both, driven mainly by body fat loss.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 149 women · 52 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 34 timesPubMed

140. In sedentary postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of combined endurance and resistance training improved body composition, performance and insulin sensitivity, with no added benefit from DHEA supplementation.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 31 women · 12 weeks · 2008PostmenopausalCited 49 timesPubMed

141. Overweight postmenopausal women did a 20 week diet with or without treadmill walking; those with larger drops in daily activity during weight loss regained more weight afterward.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 34 women · 20 weeks · 2008PostmenopausalCited 48 timesPubMed

142. Twenty nine postmenopausal breast cancer survivors did 15 weeks of combined walking and resistance training, and the exercise group showed improved fitness, blood pressure, weight, insulin, glucose and cholesterol measures.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 29 women · 15 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 45 timesPubMed

143. Overweight or obese postmenopausal women did combined HIIT and resistance training three times weekly for 12 weeks, and researchers found reduced abdominal fat and increased muscle mass and fitness versus controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 17 women · 12 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 39 timesPubMed

144. Postmenopausal women walked 5 days a week for 15 weeks in one or two daily sessions; both schedules equally improved aerobic fitness and reduced body weight and fat percentage.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 130 women · 15 weeks · 2002PostmenopausalCited 41 timesPubMed

145. In obese middle-aged women over 20 weeks, adding aerobic exercise to a dietary weight-loss program reduced abdominal adipocyte size more than diet alone.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 45 women · 20 weeks · 2006Midlife womenCited 46 timesPubMed

146. Obese, sedentary postmenopausal women underwent a 6-month lifestyle change program with increased physical activity and reported reduced weight, fat mass, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 44 women · 26 weeks · 2004PostmenopausalCited 48 timesPubMed

147. Obese postmenopausal women walked and strength trained with diet and GH or IGF-I injections for 12 weeks; all groups lost fat and gained muscle strength without losing lean mass.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 28 women · 12 weeks · 1998PostmenopausalCited 60 timesPubMed

148. In 65 postmenopausal women with high cardiovascular risk, 12 weeks of exergaming improved fitness and blood vessel function similarly to treadmill exercise, and both reduced heart fat thickness.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed

149. Older overweight women did resistance training 3 days a week for 16 weeks during calorie restriction and preserved fat-free mass compared with a sedentary group losing the same weight.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 16 women · 16 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 51 timesPubMed

150. Overweight postmenopausal women did a 12 month calorie restriction, aerobic exercise, or combined diet and exercise program; diet related arms showed greater drops in dietary inflammatory index, mostly explained by weight loss.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 365 women · 52 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed

151. Obese, sedentary postmenopausal women on a calorie-restricted diet, with or without resistance training, showed significant reductions in percent body fat measured by DXA.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 132 women · 2013PostmenopausalCited 29 timesPubMed

152. Postmenopausal women did strength training three times weekly for 12 months, with or without etidronate, and gained muscle strength and lean mass and lost fat, but exercise did not add to bone density gains from the drug.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 48 women · 52 weeks · 2002PostmenopausalCited 46 timesPubMed

153. Early postmenopausal women did periodized high intensity resistance and impact exercise for a year, and spine bone density was maintained versus a significant decline in the non-exercise control group.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 128 women · 52 weeks · 2010Early postmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed

154. Previously sedentary postmenopausal women aged 60 to 70 walked briskly for 12 months, and researchers found reduced heel bone loss and improved fitness compared with non-walkers.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 78 women · 52 weeks · 1997PostmenopausalCited 45 timesPubMed

155. Obese postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of HIIT or combined training three times weekly, and HIIT reduced visceral fat more and increased interleukin-6 compared to combined training.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 12 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 33 timesPubMed

156. Postmenopausal women did a 12 week home-based bench step exercise program and showed improved BMI, blood pressure, glucose, LDL cholesterol and arterial stiffness measures.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 12 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 38 timesPubMed

157. Sedentary postmenopausal women did 2 months of flamenco and sevillanas dance three times weekly, improving mobility, balance, physical activity, and fitness, but not blood pressure, weight, or quality of life.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 52 women · 8 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed

158. In 122 postmenopausal women followed 6 years, greater resistance training frequency and volume predicted less gain in body weight and fat, with high adherers maintaining weight.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 122 women · 312 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 29 timesPubMed

159. In postmenopausal women with obesity aged 68 to 72, 12 weeks of moderate intensity walking reduced weight, body fat and inflammatory markers CRP, IL-6 and TNF-alpha compared to controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 12 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 29 timesPubMed

160. Healthy women aged 50 to 65 did 12 weeks of combined aerobic plus resistance training or aerobic training alone, and combined training improved growth hormone, body fat, glucose and blood pressure more.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 22 women · 12 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 40 timesPubMed

161. Over 14 weeks, postmenopausal women doing circuit resistance training with energy-restricted diets and calcium or vitamin D supplements showed improved strength, aerobic capacity and varying body composition changes by diet and supplement combination.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 128 women · 14 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed

162. Postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes did 12 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance exercise and showed reduced body fat, lower insulin resistance, and increased muscle mass.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 45 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 27 timesPubMed

163. Sedentary overweight postmenopausal women did a year of moderate exercise, and those with certain CYP19 and COMT gene variants lost more total and percentage body fat.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 173 women · 52 weeks · 2004PostmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed

164. Postmenopausal women did exercise plus Mediterranean diet, with or without soy isoflavones, for 24 months; the soy group showed greater drops in fat mass, glucose, insulin and inflammation markers.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 104 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed

165. Overweight postmenopausal women lost weight via diet alone or exercise plus diet over 16 weeks, and fat loss was linked to favorable changes in sex hormones and inflammatory markers.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 243 women · 16 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed

166. Postmenopausal women used a mobile phone walking program for 12 weeks and reported faster walking times, small weight loss, and improved exercise goal setting and planning.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 71 women · 12 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 29 timesPubMed

167. In 24 sedentary women aged 41 to 55, 12 weeks of brisk walking improved fitness and reduced body fat, lowered the post-meal insulin response, but did not change the post-meal triglyceride response.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 24 women · 12 weeks · 1995Midlife womenCited 54 timesPubMed

168. In 302 postmenopausal women in a year-long aerobic exercise trial, researchers found body fat measures correlated with fatty breast tissue and weakly with fibroglandular tissue.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 302 women · 52 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed

169. Obese postmenopausal women did caloric restriction with or without resistance training, and a dopamine receptor gene variant was linked to smaller fat and weight loss in the combined group.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 127 women · 2013PostmenopausalCited 25 timesPubMed

170. 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

171. Overweight middle-aged women doing aerobic training three times weekly for 3 months, with or without daily orange juice, both lost fat and improved anaerobic threshold, with juice linked to better LDL and HDL changes.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 12 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 37 timesPubMed

172. 373 premenopausal women aged 44 to 50 given a 5-year diet, weight-loss and physical activity program had greater hip bone loss than control women who gained weight.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 373 women · 260 weeks · 2007PerimenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed

173. In 72 postmenopausal women, 8 weeks of circuit resistance training at low or moderate intensity, with or without Zataria supplementation, reduced body fat and inflammatory markers RBP-4 and TNF-alpha.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 72 women · 8 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed

174. Overweight postmenopausal women on a 6-month calorie restriction diet with or without resistance training both lost weight and fat-free mass, with greater fat loss in the resistance training group.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 93 women · 26 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 25 timesPubMed

175. Sedentary overweight postmenopausal women did 12 months of moderate aerobic exercise, and researchers found reduced PEDF, a blood vessel regulator, compared to a stretching control group.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 173 women · 52 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed

176. Sedentary postmenopausal women did 30 or 45 minutes of moderate exercise 5 days a week for 12 weeks; longer duration produced greater gains in fitness, body composition and HDL cholesterol.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 12 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 35 timesPubMed

177. Obese postmenopausal women did 6 months of mixed exercise training with or without phytoestrogens, and both groups had reduced CRP and leptin, with no added benefit from phytoestrogens.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 52 women · 26 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 28 timesPubMed

178. Women aged 39 to 64 completed 21 weeks of exercise training, and DXA detected significant changes in body fat and lean mass that bioimpedance and skinfold methods underestimated.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 97 women · 21 weeks · 2013Midlife womenCited 24 timesPubMed

179. In postmenopausal women, six months of aerobic training combined with higher habitual daily steps produced greater reductions in waist circumference and weight than aerobic training with lower daily steps.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 325 women · 26 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed

180. Postmenopausal women did a 6-month supervised exercise weight-loss program with placebo, raloxifene or hormone therapy, and weight loss was linked to reduced bone density, especially without raloxifene or hormone therapy.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 94 women · 26 weeks · 2005PostmenopausalCited 29 timesPubMed

181. Postmenopausal women did 24 weeks of whole-body vibration or multicomponent training; both reduced total fat mass and increased knee and ankle strength, with no change in bone density.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 38 women · 24 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed

182. In 35 obese postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome, resistance band training improved blood glucose, insulin resistance, lipids, blood pressure, body fat and lean mass compared to no change in controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 35 women · 2021PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed

183. In inactive postmenopausal South Asian women, 12 weeks of Bhangra dance or gym-based exercise did not significantly reduce visceral fat overall, but fat loss occurred in women with high attendance.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 75 women · 12 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed

184. Postmenopausal women did 9 months of resistance training or stretching with ibuprofen or placebo; exercise did not change bone density but increased strength and reduced body fat versus stretching.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 90 women · 36 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed

185. 35 sedentary postmenopausal women with obesity did 12 weeks of endurance or concurrent training; both reduced fat mass, with myokine changes differing by exercise type but not menopause status.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 35 women · 12 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed

186. In a 16-week RCT, postmenopausal women doing circuit-style functional training with elastic bands and walking reduced body fat and improved strength, coordination, agility and cholesterol levels versus controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 50 women · 16 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed

187. Protocol describes a planned 12-month trial testing a diet and physical activity weight management program in overweight postmenopausal women attending breast screening; no results reported yet.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 414 women · 52 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed

188. Previously sedentary women aged 40 to 66 exercised three days a week for a year, and DXA detected a small increase in fat-free mass not found by other measurement methods.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 76 women · 52 weeks · 2000Midlife womenCited 33 timesPubMed

189. Among 137 overweight postmenopausal women in a 6-month diet or diet-plus-resistance-training program, 22% dropped out, with less weight loss and fewer fruit servings than completers.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 137 women · 26 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed

190. Postmenopausal women not using hormone therapy did strength training three times a week for 24 weeks and showed less bone loss at the spine and femoral neck than untrained women.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 24 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 65 timesPubMed

191. A systematic review of 34 studies in postmenopausal women found strength training improved body composition, muscle strength and bone density, while added protein gave no extra strength benefit.

     Reported an improvementSystematic review · 1,541 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed

192. In postmenopausal smokers, adding 6 months of moderate exercise to smoking cessation treatment slowed BMI increase and reduced cigarettes per day but did not raise quit rates.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 301 women · 26 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed

193. Inactive postmenopausal women who did recreational team handball twice weekly for 16 weeks showed improved lumbar spine bone density, bone markers and postural balance versus controls.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 67 women · 16 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed

194. Early postmenopausal women did a 12 month periodized bone and endurance exercise program and showed less lumbar spine bone loss than a low-intensity wellness control group.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 85 women · 52 weeks · 2013Early postmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed

195. Postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity did a one year resistance training program after dietary weight loss, and researchers found no significant difference in body composition or energy expenditure versus controls.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 54 women · 52 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed

196. Active women aged 56 to 75 did 6 months of low-load high-repetition resistance training (BodyPump), which reduced lumbar spine bone loss and increased strength compared to controls.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 50 women · 26 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed

197. Trained postmenopausal women doing 12 weeks of multiple-set resistance training gained 3.5 to 5.5 percent in strength measures, while single-set training showed small strength decreases.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 71 women · 17 weeks · 2004Early postmenopausalCited 29 timesPubMed

198. Inactive pre-menopausal women with mild hypertension who did one year of small-sided soccer training had greater reductions in blood pressure and fat mass, and improved bone mineral density, lipids and fitness than controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 31 women · 52 weeks · 2017OtherCited 25 timesPubMed

199. Postmenopausal women aged 50 to 70 in a 20 week diet and aerobic exercise weight loss trial lost less lean mass when they ate more protein during caloric restriction.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 20 weeks · 2008PostmenopausalCited 63 timesPubMed

200. A 12-week program encouraging aerobic exercise and lifestyle changes in women aged 50-65 reported decreases in waist-to-hip ratio, BMI, blood pressure and weight compared to controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 90 women · 12 weeks · 2006Midlife womenCited 26 timesPubMed

201. Over 12 weeks, obese postmenopausal women doing endurance or concurrent aerobic and resistance training reduced fat mass, with concurrent training also increasing lean mass and differing effects on sex hormones like testosterone.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 35 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed

202. Postmenopausal women followed a 12-month dairy, calcium and vitamin D plus lifestyle counseling program, calcium alone, or usual diet; the lifestyle group showed less loss of leg lean mass than the other groups.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 101 women · 52 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed

203. Obese postmenopausal women did low-intensity resistance training with slow movement, diet, or both for 12 weeks; resistance training prevented muscle loss seen with diet alone.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 41 women · 12 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 25 timesPubMed

204. In 38 dynapenic-obese postmenopausal women over 12 weeks, resistance training improved physical capacity while caloric restriction with or without resistance training improved body composition and metabolic markers.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 38 women · 12 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed

205. Breast cancer patients did 16 weeks of resistance plus HIIT or aerobic plus HIIT during chemotherapy; at 5 years fatigue did not differ from usual care, but gluteal pain sensitivity was reduced with resistance HIIT.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 240 women · 16 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed

206. In postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome, 8 weeks of resistance training or HIIT reduced weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, with HIIT improving metabolic markers more and resistance training improving muscle mass and strength more.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 45 women · 8 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed

207. Postmenopausal women did 6 weeks of twice-weekly hypertrophic resistance training and showed improved resting heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose, body fat, and muscle strength versus controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 37 women · 6 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed

208. Postmenopausal women with mild hyperlipidemia who walked about 54 minutes most days for six months had reduced cholesterol, triglycerides, body fat and increased fitness versus controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 25 women · 26 weeks · 1995PostmenopausalCited 41 timesPubMed

209. 192 overweight postmenopausal women completed a 12-month diet and exercise weight-loss program, which reduced a circulating microRNA linked to obesity and breast cancer more than control.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 192 women · 52 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed

210. Over 9 months, postmenopausal women doing resistance training gained muscle mass and strength and limited fat gain, while soy isoflavone supplementation alone did not change body composition.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 71 women · 39 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed

211. Overweight or obese postmenopausal women did 6 months of mixed exercise with isoflavone supplement or placebo; the isoflavone group showed greater reductions in fat mass and CRP inflammation than exercise alone.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 34 women · 26 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed

212. Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis did brisk walks and aerobic exercise for one year; the training group reduced waist circumference versus controls, with no significant changes in blood pressure or lipids.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 92 women · 52 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed

213. 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

214. In 244 women aged 45 to 65 doing a 4-month resistance exercise program, adding a fortified milk drink gave extra gains in lean mass, bone content and balance but not in muscle strength versus exercise with placebo.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 216 women · 16 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed

215. Postmenopausal women did 200 minutes a week of aerobic exercise for 12 months and researchers found fat loss partly explained exercise-related changes in estradiol and SHBG.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 320 women · 52 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed

216. Twenty-two postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of progressive resistance training, and researchers found increased strength, reduced waist circumference, cholesterol and blood glucose, with no change in blood pressure.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 22 women · 12 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 25 timesPubMed

217. Obese, inactive postmenopausal Black women at breast cancer risk did 6 months of supervised or home-based aerobic exercise and researchers found reduced allostatic load scores compared with controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 213 women · 26 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed

218. Obese women aged 50 to 61 did 8 weeks of aerobic or resistance exercise; both reduced weight, waist circumference and body fat, and raised apelin-12 levels.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 24 women · 8 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 22 timesPubMed

219. Postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of whole body vibration or multi-component training, with both groups showing similar gains in knee and ankle strength and body composition changes.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 38 women · 12 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed

220. Postmenopausal women did 12 months of varying doses of aerobic exercise, and greater fitness gains were linked to less compensation that offset expected weight loss.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 360 women · 52 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed

221. A one-year moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program in overweight, sedentary postmenopausal women improved fitness and reduced body fat but did not significantly change blood cholesterol levels versus stretching controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 170 women · 52 weeks · 2006PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed

222. Middle-aged women in a diet and physical activity lifestyle programme maintained improvements in weight, cholesterol and blood pressure measures from 6 to 18 months, though some benefits partly declined.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 489 women · 78 weeks · 1998Midlife womenCited 19 timesPubMed

223. Midlife women did a year of home-based aerobic exercise with slight calorie restriction, showing greater weight loss at 6 months that faded by 12 months, but lasting HDL cholesterol improvement.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 203 women · 52 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 17 timesPubMed

224. In middle-aged obese women, 12 weeks of circuit exercise combining aerobic and resistance training reduced body weight, body fat and insulin resistance compared to no significant change in controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 12 weeks · 2018Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed

225. 26 overweight, middle-aged women used pedometers for 12 weeks, increasing daily steps by 36% and lowering systolic blood pressure, but weight and body fat did not differ from controls.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 26 women · 12 weeks · 2009Midlife womenCited 26 timesPubMed

226. Overweight postmenopausal women did a year of diet, aerobic exercise, or both, and body weight, glucose and inflammation markers improved regardless of antidepressant use.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 439 women · 52 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed

227. 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.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 30 women · 12 weeks · 2011Midlife womenCited 24 timesPubMed

228. Menopausal women aged 45 to 59 practiced Rusie Dutton traditional Thai exercise for 13 weeks and showed significant improvements in fitness, flexibility, blood pressure and quality of life versus controls.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 50 women · 13 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 20 timesPubMed

229. Postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome features did 6 months of low-load circuit resistance or aerobic cycling training; both groups reduced body fat, blood pressure and cholesterol with no difference between methods.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 34 women · 24 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed

230. 240 postmenopausal women on hormone therapy joined a lifestyle intervention or health education over 18 months; the lifestyle group increased physical activity and reduced weight and cholesterol.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 240 women · 78 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 17 timesPubMed

231. Overweight postmenopausal women in a 48-month lifestyle programme who increased activity and lost weight showed faster 400-meter walk times than those who did not.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 508 women · 192 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed

232. Overweight postmenopausal women followed a 12-week low-energy diet with or without exercise; adding exercise did not further change leptin levels beyond diet-induced weight loss.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 121 women · 12 weeks · 1998PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed

233. Overweight postmenopausal women did 8 weeks of sprint interval training three times weekly, and gained lean mass, lost fat mass, and increased aerobic fitness compared to controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 8 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed

234. In 31 breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors, 12 weeks of whole-body vibration did not change bone turnover markers, body composition, or physical function versus usual care.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 31 women · 12 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed

235. 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.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 98 women · 52 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 16 timesPubMed

236. Overweight postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of resistance training with or without DHA supplementation, with training maintaining bone mineral content, increasing lean mass and strength, and improving glucose tolerance.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 16 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 36 timesPubMed

237. Obese postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of HIIT or endurance exercise with a calorie restricted diet, and the HIIT group lost twice as much weight and had higher adherence than the endurance group.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 11 women · 16 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed

238. Postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome did a 16 week home based treadmill walking program and showed reduced epicardial and abdominal fat compared with before training.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 60 women · 16 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed

239. Twenty postmenopausal women did high-intensity treadmill training for 3 months, and researchers reported added infrared light improved muscle power and reduced leg fatigue versus training alone.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 20 women · 12 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed

240. In a long-term study of adults, higher physical activity was linked to increased fat-free mass and decreased body fat in women, with effects more pronounced after menopause.

     Reported an improvementCohort study · 108 women · 1999Midlife womenCited 236 timesPubMed

241. In 35 BRCA-positive breast cancer survivors after surgical menopause, a 12 month web-based lifestyle program maintained cardiovascular fitness and bone area and reduced body fat versus control.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 35 women · 52 weeks · 2017OtherCited 18 timesPubMed

242. In overweight postmenopausal women, 4 weeks of diet with or without resistance training did not improve insulin-stimulated glucose disposal, though resistance training preserved muscle mass.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 19 women · 4 weeks · 2001PostmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed

243. Obese postmenopausal women on calorie restriction with or without aerobic exercise for 20 weeks had similar reductions in pericardial fat regardless of exercise addition.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 32 women · 20 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed

244. Overweight postmenopausal women followed for six months after a 12 week diet with or without exercise showed those who kept exercising had greater fat loss, but bone density was not affected in either group.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 118 women · 78 weeks · 1994PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed

245. In 24 sedentary postmenopausal women with obesity, 10 weeks of low-volume walking reduced body weight, fat mass, blood glucose and HbA1c, raised fitness, and did not change bone markers.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 24 women · 10 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed

246. Chinese menopausal transition and early postmenopausal women followed a 12-month diet and aerobic activity program; the intervention group showed greater decreases in weight, blood pressure and cholesterol than controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 100 women · 52 weeks · 2014PerimenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed

247. Sedentary overweight postmenopausal women with hypertension did 6 months of cardiorespiratory exercise at varying doses, and higher doses were reported to improve metabolic syndrome components more.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 40 timesPubMed

248. Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors did twice-weekly combined impact-aerobic and strength training for one year and researchers found decreased visceral and total fat tissue versus control.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 43 women · 52 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed

249. In 40 middle-aged obese women with diabetes, 24 weeks of Baduanjin qigong reduced waist, blood glucose, HbA1c and triglycerides compared with no exercise.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 24 weeks · 2018Midlife womenCited 16 timesPubMed

250. Obese postmenopausal women did aerobic treadmill exercise plus diet for 3 months and showed reduced inflammatory and endothelial markers versus no intervention.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 80 women · 12 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed

251. 47 African American and Caucasian postmenopausal women did 6 months of aerobic training, reducing body weight, body fat and BMI, but resting metabolic rate did not change with exercise.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 47 women · 26 weeks · 2006PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed

252. Overweight women aged 40 to 65 did an 8-week virtual reality cycling exercise program, which reduced BMI and depression scores more than indoor cycling or control.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 8 weeks · 2023Midlife womenCited 29 timesPubMed

253. Obese postmenopausal women on calorie restriction with or without aerobic exercise for 20 weeks lost similar weight and had similar reductions in a lipid-related blood marker, sLOX-1.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 61 women · 20 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed

254. Postmenopausal women over 50 did 12 weeks of Thera-Band resistance training; strength and fat-free mass increased, but gains were lost after 4 weeks of detraining.

     Reported a worseningRandomised trial · 20 women · 12 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed

255. In obese postmenopausal women over 12 weeks, both HIIT and combined training reduced body fat and increased leg lean mass, but only combined training increased muscle strength and fast walking speed.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 24 women · 12 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed

256. Older postmenopausal women did 32 weeks of elastic band resistance training with or without seawater supplementation and researchers found resistance training, not the supplement, drove improved strength and lower body fat.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 93 women · 32 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed

257. Obese postmenopausal women did 6 weeks of whole-body vibration training, which reduced body fat percentage and improved heart rate variability compared to a non-exercising control group.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 27 women · 6 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed

258. Postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of multimodal exercise wearing weighted vests, which reduced a bone resorption marker and improved ankle strength versus controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 16 women · 12 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed

259. In a 12 month resistance training trial, previously sedentary postmenopausal women gained lean tissue and lost body fat, with effects varying by adrenergic receptor genotype.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 148 women · 52 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed

260. 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.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 20 women · 26 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed

261. Postmenopausal women underwent a 6-month mainly exercise-based weight loss program with estrogen, raloxifene, or placebo; hormone therapy did not increase abdominal fat loss but improved some lipid and glucose measures.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 119 women · 26 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed

262. In a 12-week trial, 55 postmenopausal women doing resistance training, with or without a high-protein diet, increased skeletal muscle mass and strength more than diet alone or control.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 55 women · 12 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed

263. In 84 sedentary climacteric women with metabolic syndrome, 24 weeks of yoga reduced metabolic syndrome frequency and improved waist circumference, blood pressure, lipids, glucose and inflammation markers compared with controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 84 women · 24 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed

264. After 6 months of combined aerobic and resistance exercise, postmenopausal women taking phytoestrogens showed greater reductions in weight, fat mass and blood pressure than those on placebo.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 21 women · 26 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 17 timesPubMed

265. Obese middle-aged women did 8 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance exercise at moderate or vigorous intensity and researchers found reduced body weight, body fat, and triglycerides in both groups.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 16 women · 8 weeks · 2023Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed

266. In sedentary postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of step-counting programs increased daily steps and activity but changed only body mass index among clinical outcomes measured.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 115 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

267. Inactive postmenopausal women did recreational team handball training for 36 weeks and researchers reported improved fitness, knee strength, lumbar spine bone density, and lipid markers.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 45 women · 36 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed

268. Sedentary postmenopausal women did 8 weeks of whole body vibration, circuit resistance, or aerobic training, with vibration showing no body composition benefit and a strength decrease versus other methods.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 8 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 28 timesPubMed

269. In 62 menopausal women, 12 weeks of resistance and endurance circuit training combined with time-restricted eating reduced BMI, fat mass, glucose and insulin more than training alone.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 62 women · 12 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed

270. Postmenopausal overweight women at high breast cancer risk did 12 weeks of HIIT, moderate exercise, or usual care; HIIT was feasible and improved fitness more than usual care, with no weight difference.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 44 women · 12 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed

271. Early postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of resistance training with placebo or transdermal estrogen; placebo group lost more fat mass, while estrogen group improved cholesterol and glucose markers.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 31 women · 12 weeks · 2021Early postmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed

272. 46 overweight postmenopausal women did 6 months of caloric restriction with or without resistance training; both improved insulin sensitivity similarly but adiponectin reduction during hyperinsulinemia was unchanged.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 46 women · 26 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed

273. Sedentary men and postmenopausal women with overweight/obesity did 3 weeks of vigorous treadmill exercise with calorie restriction, reducing weight, fat mass and improving insulin sensitivity without changing gut microbiome.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 3 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 10 timesPubMed

274. Postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of low or high volume resistance training; high-volume training improved fast walking speed and waist measures more than low-volume, while strength gains were similar between groups.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 33 women · 16 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed

275. Postmenopausal women who completed a 12-month multi-component exercise program had improved fat mass, skeletal muscle mass and fat-free mass compared with non-exercising controls, regardless of menopause characteristics.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 158 women · 52 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

276. In postmenopausal women, 12 months of aerobic exercise at increasing weekly volumes up to 300 minutes produced progressively greater reductions in weight, fat mass and abdominal fat than controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 720 women · 52 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed

277. Obese menopausal women did 6 months of caloric restriction with or without resistance training; adding resistance training improved muscle strength more in women with low baseline strength.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 109 women · 26 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed

278. Postmenopausal women did resistance training with stretching twice weekly for 8 weeks and showed reduced body fat, increased fat-free mass, and improved physical and mental quality of life versus non-exercisers.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 38 women · 8 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed

279. Osteopenic postmenopausal women did 12 months of weight-bearing resistance exercise or risedronate; the exercise group gained more lean mass than control, similar to the drug group.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 276 women · 52 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

280. In postmenopausal women averaging 56 years, 12 weeks of treadmill exercise improved waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, interleukin-6 levels and exercise capacity compared to a control group.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 46 women · 12 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed

281. Sixty-five postmenopausal women with hot flushes did 15 weeks of supervised resistance training three days a week, and compliant women showed greater reductions in abdominal and visceral fat than controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 15 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed

282. Over 12 weeks, 58 middle-aged women at cardiovascular risk using counseling, texts and a pedometer showed improved activity levels, body fat, and fasting blood sugar, but no change in cholesterol.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 58 women · 12 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed

283. In 49 postmenopausal South Asian women doing 12 weeks of aerobic exercise, reductions in visceral fat were linked with improved glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 49 women · 12 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed

284. A 10-week intermittent walking programme in 36 obese postmenopausal women reduced thyroid stimulating hormone, triglycerides, cholesterol and blood pressure, and improved fitness and HDL cholesterol.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 10 weeks · 2026Early postmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed

285. After a 12 month moderate to vigorous exercise program, postmenopausal women had lower body mass index and lower foot plantar pressures than a control group.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 121 women · 52 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

286. Postmenopausal women aged 50 to 60 did treadmill training twice weekly for six months, with or without phototherapy, and showed improved cholesterol and reduced skinfold thickness.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 30 women · 26 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed

287. Sedentary postmenopausal women did 10 weeks of aerobic and strength training with or without whole-body electromyostimulation; the stimulation group showed greater power and velocity gains but little effect on body composition.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 34 women · 10 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

288. Thirty postmenopausal women did an 8 week HIIT program combined with either intermittent fasting or a low calorie diet, and both groups improved flexibility and VO2 max.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 30 women · 8 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed

289. In 30 postmenopausal women doing 10 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance exercise, adding isoflavone supplementation did not change body composition phase angle compared to placebo.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 30 women · 10 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

290. In 15 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes, 12 weeks of circuit resistance exercise improved glycemic control, body composition and adipokines more than walking exercise.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 15 women · 12 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed

291. In older women with metabolic syndrome, 16 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance training improved fitness and strength but did not change body composition, blood pressure or lipid and glucose profiles.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 25 women · 16 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 8 timesPubMed

292. 18 sedentary postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of either short high-intensity exercise or traditional walking, and body fat and anthropometric measures did not differ significantly between groups.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 18 women · 12 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed

293. 44 postmenopausal women did 9 months of weight-bearing resistance exercise, and those who lost lower body fat showed the most improvement in perceived physical appearance, with little change in self-esteem.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 44 women · 39 weeks · 2000PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed

294. 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

295. Obese postmenopausal women who did a 6-month weight loss program with or without aerobic or resistance exercise reduced body fat, insulin and leptin, but adiponectin levels did not change.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 40 women · 26 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 121 timesPubMed

296. In over 8000 postmenopausal women followed 6 years, higher physical activity reduced fat gain in women aged 50 to 59 but was not linked to changes in lean mass at any age.

     Reported an improvementCohort study · 8,352 women · 312 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 32 timesPubMed

297. In 25 hypertensive women followed 9 years through menopause, soccer-based exercise training reduced blood pressure, body fat, cholesterol, and kept fasting glucose stable compared to non-exercising controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 25 women · 468 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 7 timesPubMed

298. Sedentary postmenopausal women did 6 months of supervised aerobic training; it reduced BMI and body fat and increased aerobic fitness but did not significantly change leptin or resistin levels.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 27 women · 26 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed

299. 12 postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity did single sessions of continuous or interval cycling, and researchers found no difference in post-exercise fat burning or energy balance between the two exercise types.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 12 women · 2020PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

300. Postmenopausal women did Nordic walking or traditional walking three times weekly; Nordic walking raised circulating VEGF more, and both groups reduced weight, BMI and hip circumference.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 2017PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed

301. Overweight postmenopausal women did a 12 week mobile-based walking program, and researchers found no significant changes in adiponectin or leptin despite improved anthropometric measures.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 71 women · 12 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed

302. In postmenopausal women, 12 months of step, weight training and flexibility exercise reduced fat mass and visceral fat gain and preserved skeletal muscle mass compared with controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 169 women · 52 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

303. Previously sedentary postmenopausal women aged 45 to 64 who completed a 20-week exercise plus health promotion program reported improved quality of life, mental well-being, weight, fitness and flexibility versus controls, sustained to 12 months.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed

304. Inactive postmenopausal women prescribed 300 versus 150 minutes per week of exercise for a year showed no difference in total body fat at 24 months, though some body composition measures differed slightly.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 334 women · 104 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed

305. Obese postmenopausal women did Taekwondo training five times weekly for 16 weeks and showed reduced weight, body fat, cholesterol and negative mood, with increased serotonin.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 24 women · 16 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed

306. Twenty-six obese middle-aged women with prehypertension did 6 weeks of resistance plus moderate or high-intensity aerobic training; both groups improved body composition, blood pressure, and fitness, with resistance plus HIIT improving lipids more.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 6 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed

307. Postmenopausal women did a 12-week diet plus resistance and walking program; those also given growth hormone lost more central fat than those on placebo or IGF-I.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 27 women · 12 weeks · 2001PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed

308. In postmenopausal women who lost weight through an exercise trial, regaining weight over a year of follow-up was associated with rising estrogen and insulin resistance markers and falling sex hormone-binding globulin.

     Reported a worseningRandomised trial · 214 women · 104 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed

309. Previously sedentary postmenopausal women who completed a supervised 20-week multicomponent exercise program showed improved quality of life, mental well-being, weight, fitness and flexibility, maintained through 12-month follow-up.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed

310. Perimenopausal women received dietary guidance combined with resistance exercise for three months and showed reduced waist circumference and triglycerides compared to controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 78 women · 12 weeks · 2021PerimenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed

311. Late premenopausal and early postmenopausal women did 3 months of high-intensity aerobic training, which reduced weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and improved insulin response similarly in both groups.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 79 women · 12 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 64 timesPubMed

312. Sedentary overweight or obese postmenopausal women underwent a diet based weight loss program with or without resistance training, and visceral fat measured by two methods decreased similarly after the intervention.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 92 women · 2012PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

313. In overweight and obese middle-aged women, 2 months of moderate aerobic exercise improved fitness and reduced body weight and blood pressure but did not change cognitive or motor performance.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 8 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed

314. Women approaching menopause given ovarian hormone suppression for 24 weeks, with or without endurance exercise training, showed no difference in energy expenditure or body composition changes between groups.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 34 women · 24 weeks · 2020PerimenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

315. In 40 overweight or obese postmenopausal women with low vitamin D, 8 weeks of water-based aerobic training with vitamin D3 improved BMI, grip strength, balance and gait speed more than either alone.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 8 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed

316. In postmenopausal women, 8 weeks of aquatic exercise under mild hypoxic conditions reduced body fat and increased adiponectin more than the same exercise under normal oxygen conditions.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 14 women · 8 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed

317. In 26 postmenopausal women, 8 weeks of combined exercise with ursolic acid supplementation raised handgrip strength more than exercise with placebo, but waist circumference and other outcomes did not differ.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 26 women · 8 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

318. Postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of indoor or outdoor training three times weekly, and indoor training improved body composition and fitness more while outdoor training improved blood pressure, strength and adherence.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 23 women · 12 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed

319. 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

320. 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.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 130 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed

321. In 33 obese postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes given 14 weeks of diet, exercise alone, or diet plus exercise, only exercise groups reduced visceral fat despite diet alone also reducing weight.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 33 women · 14 weeks · 2005PostmenopausalCited 92 timesPubMed

322. In obese postmenopausal women undergoing caloric restriction with or without resistance training, DXA abdominal fat correlated well with CT measured subcutaneous fat before and after weight loss.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 137 women · 2011PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed

323. Sedentary postmenopausal hypertensive women doing 8 weeks of aerobic exercise in mineral spring water showed reduced blood pressure and body fat and improved fitness versus controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 women · 8 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

324. Obese postmenopausal women with impaired glucose tolerance did aerobic exercise plus calorie restriction for 6 months and showed greater improvement in insulin-stimulated glycogen synthase activity than calorie restriction alone.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 96 women · 26 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 60 timesPubMed

325. Overweight postmenopausal women did a 6-month weight loss program with higher-protein diet with or without supervised multicomponent exercise; exercise groups preserved strength and physical function better than diet alone.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 72 women · 26 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed

326. In sedentary middle-aged women, a 6 month Hatha yoga program three times weekly improved body fat, strength, aerobic fitness and balance compared to no training.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 80 women · 26 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed

327. 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

328. 106 obese postmenopausal women did a 3 month aerobic and anaerobic exercise program and reported improved quality of life and reduced weight and fat mass versus a diet-advice control group.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 106 women · 12 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed

329. A scoping review of 69 studies found resistance training programs for postmenopausal women most often targeted body composition and muscular performance but rarely included functional exercises.

     Direction not statedSystematic review · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed

330. Overweight postmenopausal women added walking to a weight loss program and showed a 2% increase in femoral neck bone density versus weight loss alone, linked to reduced inflammatory markers.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 86 women · 2009PostmenopausalCited 59 timesPubMed

331. In a 6 month community weight management program combining diet, counseling and exercise visits, women lost an average of 4.7% body weight, with BMI and lipids improving regardless of menopausal status.

     Reported an improvementCohort study · 198 women · 26 weeks · 2006Midlife womenCited 51 timesPubMed

332. 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

333. Mildly obese middle-aged women did 12 weeks of aerobic exercise with food restriction and lost body fat while resting metabolic rate per unit of lean mass increased.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 17 women · 12 weeks · 1994Midlife womenCited 10 timesPubMed

334. Middle-aged Korean women with obesity did 12 weeks of resistance training with varied set structures, with some groups showing higher BDNF, NGF and adiponectin and lower leptin levels.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 31 women · 12 weeks · 2023Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed

335. Postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity used a mobile and internet diet and exercise program for 12 weeks and showed reduced waist circumference, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol versus controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 67 women · 12 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 54 timesPubMed

336. Obese postmenopausal women who followed 6 months of hypocaloric diet plus low-intensity walking lost weight and abdominal fat and improved lipid and glucose measures, in both Caucasian and African-American women.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 76 women · 26 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 63 timesPubMed

337. Obese middle-aged women who did combined aerobic and resistance training lost more abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat and gained more lean mass than those doing aerobic training alone.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 30 women · 2003Midlife womenCited 73 timesPubMed

338. In 98 overweight postmenopausal women, 3 months of diet with or without exercise produced weight and fat loss that was linked to baseline sex hormone binding globulin rather than initial fat distribution.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 98 women · 12 weeks · 1995PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

339. In 35 untrained perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, 10 weeks of resistance training with or without leucine supplementation increased visceral fat and fat-free mass and altered adipokine levels in both groups.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 35 women · 10 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed

340. An 8-week home-based interval training program, with or without a Mediterranean diet, reduced weight, BMI and waist circumference in inactive postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity versus controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 8 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed

341. Postmenopausal women doing 8 weeks of Nordic walking, with or without a resistance shock absorber, showed reduced body weight, BMI, and waist circumference, with no change in heart or lung test results.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 32 women · 8 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed

342. A trial plans to randomize 40 postmenopausal women with late onset asthma to 12 weeks of supervised spinning versus usual care, measuring change in asthma symptom control.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 40 women · 12 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed

343. Women aged 40 to 60 with overweight or obesity did 12 weeks of aerobic exercise with or without time-restricted eating, and combining both reduced fat mass more than either alone.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 104 women · 12 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed

344. Overweight postmenopausal women did 10 weeks of Nordic walking or Pilates, and Nordic walking produced larger improvements in weight, blood glucose and cholesterol than Pilates.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 147 women · 10 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 34 timesPubMed

345. Peri and postmenopausal women and men did 6 weeks of resistance training with a post-workout supplement or carbohydrate only, and the supplement group gained more fat-free mass and lost more fat and waist circumference.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 women · 6 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed

346. In 71 postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of HIIT Nordic walking increased lean mass and lower limb strength, while strength training reduced fat mass and improved upper limb strength and walking speed.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 71 women · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed

347. In pre, peri and postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of low-impact resistance training improved hip strength, balance, flexibility and lean mass equally regardless of menopause status.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 70 women · 12 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed

348. Sedentary postmenopausal women did 8 months of resistance training with or without whole-body vibration, and only the combined group showed a significant decrease in percent body fat while both groups gained lean tissue.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 55 women · 32 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 44 timesPubMed

349. Forty-seven postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of jazz dance, which improved cardiorespiratory fitness and short-term sleep quality but did not improve body composition or most strength measures.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 47 women · 16 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed

350. A 10-week intermittent walking programme in 36 sedentary postmenopausal women with obesity reported improved liver enzymes, lower CRP, reduced body fat and waist size, and higher aerobic capacity.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 10 weeks · 2026Early postmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed

351. Women aged 63 to 79 with osteopenia or osteoporosis did 12 weeks of Nordic walking three times weekly and showed increased skeletal muscle mass, knee strength, and functional performance versus controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 45 women · 12 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 33 timesPubMed

352. Thirteen moderately obese postmenopausal women did 4 months of resistive training, with or without weight loss, and authors reported decreased insulin response and increased strength.

     Mixed resultsControlled trial · 13 women · 16 weeks · 1996PostmenopausalCited 65 timesPubMed

353. Sedentary postmenopausal women did a 1-year elastic band resistance training program and showed reduced weight, waist circumference, cholesterol, and inflammation compared to controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 38 women · 52 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 31 timesPubMed

354. Moderately obese postmenopausal women did diet alone or diet plus walking and resistance exercise for 24 weeks, and both groups lost weight with no added effect of exercise on blood lipids or glucose.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 41 women · 24 weeks · 1996PostmenopausalCited 51 timesPubMed

355. In 60 postmenopausal women, 16 weeks of aerobic or combined aerobic plus strength training improved body composition and metabolic markers, but leg lean mass returned to pre-training levels after 6 months of detraining.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 60 women · 16 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 27 timesPubMed

356. In 25 physically active postmenopausal women doing 12 weeks of multicomponent training, fasted versus fed exercise did not differ in body composition, blood pressure or fitness changes.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 25 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed

357. In 22 postmenopausal women on or off hormone therapy, a 3-week low-fat, high-fiber diet with aerobic exercise raised SHBG and lowered insulin, BMI and cholesterol.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 22 women · 3 weeks · 2000PostmenopausalCited 48 timesPubMed

358. Among postmenopausal smokers followed for 3 years, those who quit smoking and increased physical activity gained less weight than quitters with decreased activity.

     Reported an improvementCohort study · 4,717 women · 156 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

359. 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.

     Direction not statedRandomised trial · 49 women · 52 weeks · 2026PerimenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

360. Middle-aged women did 10 weeks of free-weight resistance training after a control phase, and lean mass and thigh muscle thickness increased in premenopausal women but not in postmenopausal women.

     Direction not statedControlled trial · 31 women · 20 weeks · 2023Midlife womenCited 22 timesPubMed

361. In middle-aged women, 10 weeks of cyclic yoga reduced weight, body fat, blood pressure and postural musculoskeletal issues, and increased muscle mass percentage versus controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 42 women · 10 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed

362. In 47 obese middle-aged women, 8 weeks of HIIT improved cardiorespiratory endurance but increased waist circumference, while adding probiotics preserved the endurance benefit and reduced hip circumference.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 47 women · 8 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed

363. Middle-aged women followed for 2 years who increased physical activity and reduced BMI reported improved self-perceptions of physical condition and body attractiveness, raising self-esteem.

     Reported an improvementCohort study · 143 women · 104 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed

364. Postmenopausal women did a 12-week fitness walking program and showed improved triglycerides, blood pressure, blood sugar, waist circumference and HDL versus controls who worsened.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

365. Obese postmenopausal women did 20 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance training and showed reduced body fat, increased lean mass, and reduced TNF-alpha compared with non-exercisers.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 70 women · 20 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed

366. Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors who did 15 weeks of combined walking and resistance training improved aerobic capacity, resting heart rate, body weight and BMI, with no change in blood pressure.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 29 women · 15 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 25 timesPubMed

367. In postmenopausal obese women, aerobic and resistance exercise both reduced weight, body fat and waist circumference and increased maximum oxygen uptake and knee muscle strength, with no change in estrogen.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 30 women · 2018PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed

368. Fifteen postmenopausal women did a 30 minute walk after meals of different glycaemic index, and timing did not change fat oxidation during exercise or post-exercise appetite.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 15 women · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

369. 62 postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of tai chi; dynapenic women showed improved handgrip strength, function and health perception, and both groups had lower blood pressure.

     Mixed resultsControlled trial · 62 women · 12 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed

370. In Australian women aged 45 to 55 followed for about three years, increases in physical activity were linked to increases in HDL cholesterol and wellbeing.

     Reported a worseningCohort study · 292 women · 156 weeks · 1997Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed

371. In 40 postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of whole-body resistance training at either lower or higher load improved adiponectin, body fat, muscle strength and walking performance similarly.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 40 women · 12 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed

372. Middle-aged women with subclinical hypothyroidism or obesity did 12 weeks of combined resistance and aerobic training, improving body fat, fitness and blood pressure but not thyroid hormones or lipids.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 40 women · 12 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 15 timesPubMed

373. Obese middle-aged women did 12 weeks of combined resistance and aerobic training, which lowered body fat, blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides, and visfatin versus controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 20 women · 12 weeks · 2011Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed

374. Early postmenopausal women did high impact aerobic, jumping and resistance exercise for 50 months, maintaining spine bone density and improving cholesterol, body fat and strength versus non-training controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 68 women · 217 weeks · 2007Early postmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed

375. African-American pre- and postmenopausal women did six months of mild-intensity aerobic exercise; postmenopausal women showed improved triglycerides and some vascular markers but not fitness or glucose.

     No difference foundControlled trial · 35 women · 26 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 17 timesPubMed

376. Untrained middle-aged women did 8 weeks of resistance training 3 or 4 days a week; both schedules increased lean mass, body weight and strength with no between-group difference.

     Reported a worseningControlled trial · 21 women · 8 weeks · 2011Midlife womenCited 20 timesPubMed

377. Postmenopausal women did brisk walking with or without added yoga for three months, and adding yoga produced greater improvements in BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 139 women · 12 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed

378. In a 20-year cohort of over 5000 Scottish women followed from perimenopause, physical activity levels did not change significantly while obesity prevalence doubled over the period.

     Reported a worseningCohort study · 5,119 women · 2017Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed

379. Pre and postmenopausal women did aqua plus resistance training for 10 weeks; both groups reduced body fat and leptin, but fat-hormone correlations differed by menopause status.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 18 women · 10 weeks · 2002Midlife womenCited 24 timesPubMed

380. 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

381. In 66 early postmenopausal women, eight weeks of combined aerobic and resistance training, delivered in person or via app, reduced menopausal symptoms, fatigue, and improved sleep versus education alone.

     No difference foundRandomised trial · 66 women · 8 weeks · 2026Early postmenopausalPubMed

382. Seventy obese postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of high intensity interval training plus mindfulness breathing, which reported reduced weight, insulin resistance, cholesterol and tumor marker levels compared with controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 70 women · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed

383. Postmenopausal women with fatty liver disease who did 8 weeks of elastic band resistance training showed reduced liver fat, fasting insulin, and BMI compared to controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 52 women · 8 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed

384. Pre- and postmenopausal obese women did a 16-week walking program, with both groups showing similar reductions in fat mass, waist size and HDL cholesterol, and improved fitness.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 30 women · 16 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 15 timesPubMed

385. 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

386. 43 middle-aged adults including peri and postmenopausal women did 6 weeks of resistance training with a pre-workout supplement or carbohydrate alone, both groups improved body composition and strength similarly.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 43 women · 6 weeks · 2025Midlife womenPubMed

387. Postmenopausal women trained using weight machines, elastic bands, or aquatic resistance devices, and all three groups improved fat mass, fat free mass, and strength test performance.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 2012PostmenopausalCited 28 timesPubMed

388. In 36 postmenopausal women with obesity, 10 weeks of moderate-intensity interval walking training modestly reduced waist size and body fat, and improved kidney and inflammation markers versus controls.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 10 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed

389. In 60 overweight postmenopausal women, 6 months of weight loss plus aerobic exercise improved fitness and reduced android fat distribution more than weight loss alone, which did not change fitness.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 60 women · 24 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed

390. Eight weeks of moderate exercise training in sedentary postmenopausal women did not change body fat, aerobic fitness, or 24-hour energy expenditure compared to non-exercising controls.

     No difference foundControlled trial · 19 women · 8 weeks · 2001PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed

391. In 43 sedentary postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of cycle ergometer training twice weekly increased VO2max by 9.2% and reduced weight, while a passive exercise device did not improve fitness.

     Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 43 women · 12 weeks · 1990PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

392. Over nine months of combined aerobic and resistance training, postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors showed similar strength, fitness, and body fat improvements to healthy postmenopausal women.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 42 women · 39 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

393. In a 12-week trial, healthy postmenopausal women who did supervised Nordic walking three times weekly reduced body mass, fat mass, insulin level and systolic blood pressure compared with controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 39 women · 12 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

394. Obese middle-aged women did a 12-week diet and aerobic program with or without acceleration training; adding acceleration training improved grip strength, balance and flexibility beyond diet and aerobic exercise alone.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 28 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 10 timesPubMed

395. In 40 postmenopausal women, 24 weeks of walking and strength training combined with dieting increased muscle strength, while bone density and VO2max did not change.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 40 women · 24 weeks · 1997PostmenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed

396. In 16 hypertensive postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of combined circuit exercise reduced arterial stiffness, body weight and total cholesterol compared with controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 16 women · 12 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed

397. In 4451 postmenopausal women followed 3 years, meeting physical activity guidelines of 150+ minutes weekly was estimated to lower abdominal fat and body weight and raise lean tissue.

     Reported an improvementCohort study · 4,451 women · 156 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed

398. 51 middle-aged Korean women did 12 weeks of self-management or structured walking classes; both groups showed improved body fat and blood pressure with no difference between them.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 51 women · 12 weeks · 2011Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed

399. In 41 inactive women aged 35 to 45, eight weeks of Zumba Fitness three times weekly improved respiratory function measures and reduced body mass, BMI and fat mass compared to controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 41 women · 8 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 7 timesPubMed

400. Perimenopausal women given diet guidance plus resistance exercise for three months showed reduced body fat and waist circumference and increased skeletal muscle weight compared to other groups.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 78 women · 12 weeks · 2021PerimenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

401. Overweight middle-aged women did 16 weeks of either strength or aerobic training; strength training decreased waist circumference more and raised resting metabolic rate, while weight loss and fitness gains were similar between groups.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 29 women · 16 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 8 timesPubMed

402. Overweight postmenopausal women did 6 months of weight loss with or without aerobic exercise; both lost similar weight, but only the exercise group improved fitness and avoided a drop in daily activity.

     No difference foundControlled trial · 79 women · 26 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

403. Overweight postmenopausal women did combined aerobic and anaerobic exercise plus diet for 12 weeks and lost more fat with preserved lean mass versus diet alone.

     Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 118 women · 12 weeks · 1994PostmenopausalPubMed

404. Postmenopausal women did 8 weeks of functional circuit training combining strength, agility and walking, and showed reduced body fat and weight compared with a non-exercising control group.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 38 women · 8 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

405. In a 3 month combined aerobic and strength training program, obese and lean premenopausal middle-aged women improved similarly across most fitness, strength and balance measures, with high enjoyment in both groups.

     Direction not statedControlled trial · 72 women · 12 weeks · 2023OtherCited 4 timesPubMed

406. In menopausal and non-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome, three months of aerobic training improved abdominal fat, blood glucose and fitness but did not change resting or post-exercise blood pressure.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 44 women · 12 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

407. Midlife women with prediabetes and short sleep did an 8 session diet and activity program with or without sleep extension; both groups reduced BMI and waist circumference with few differences between groups.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 26 women · 26 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed

408. In middle-aged Korean women, a walking-focused health promotion program improved physical activity level and lifestyle and reduced waist circumference and perceived stress compared to controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 44 women · 2022Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed

409. In middle-aged women with abdominal obesity, 12 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance training reduced waist circumference, cholesterol, triglycerides and carotid artery thickness and improved fitness versus controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 40 women · 12 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed

410. Twenty postmenopausal women at risk for heart disease did a 2 week diet and daily walking program and showed reduced BMI, insulin, cholesterol, and some inflammatory markers.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 20 women · 2 weeks · 2004PostmenopausalCited 82 timesPubMed

411. In postmenopausal women, combined strength and aerobic training reduced fat mass more than functional training, while functional training alone reduced LDL cholesterol.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 52 women · 2017PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed

412. In 76 perimenopausal women, a 3-month diet and exercise program reduced body weight and improved cholesterol in most women, but those with a specific gene mutation showed little weight loss.

     Mixed resultsBefore-and-after study · 76 women · 13 weeks · 2003PerimenopausalCited 60 timesPubMed

413. Postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of combined strength and endurance training with or without protein and carbohydrate supplementation, and researchers found increased strength with no added benefit from supplementation.

     Mixed resultsControlled trial · 51 women · 12 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed

414. Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors with obesity in a 24 week diet and exercise program lost an average of 3.8 kilograms and reduced body fat percentage and waist circumference.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 14 women · 24 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 65 timesPubMed

415. Overweight pre and postmenopausal women following a meal replacement diet plus guided exercise from week 6 to 24 both lost weight, with postmenopausal women showing greater improvements in blood pressure, triglycerides and glucose.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 72 women · 24 weeks · 2007Midlife womenCited 53 timesPubMed

416. Sedentary women aged 40 to 60 did a 26 week multicomponent exercise program; postmenopausal women showed greater blood pressure and waist reductions, premenopausal women showed greater lipid and glucose improvements.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 38 women · 26 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed

417. Perimenopausal and postmenopausal obese women completed six weeks of high-intensity interval training, and all groups reduced body measurements and increased maximal oxygen consumption afterward.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 56 women · 6 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed

418. Researchers compared body composition and fat burning during exercise in pre, peri and postmenopausal women and found lower fat oxidation during exercise in postmenopausal women.

     Mixed resultsCross-sectional study · 72 women · 2022Midlife womenCited 33 timesPubMed

419. 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.

     Mixed resultsCohort study · 216 women · 260 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed

420. Postmenopausal women with obesity who did 4 months of resistance training saw decreased body fat and increased strength and fitness, with smaller effects on cholesterol and no change in blood sugar control.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 51 women · 16 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed

421. Postmenopausal women did 24 weeks of strength training or hydro gymnastics, with both groups showing improved cardiorespiratory fitness and strength training also reducing body mass index.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 38 women · 24 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed

422. Over 20 months, middle-aged women with low cardiorespiratory fitness at baseline had more than three times the risk of gaining 3 kg or more compared with highly fit women.

     Reported a worseningCohort study · 257 women · 87 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed

423. In 45 middle-aged women who had not exercised regularly, a 12 week mat Pilates program twice weekly improved body composition, core and lower limb strength, agility and balance versus no intervention.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 45 women · 12 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed

424. Elderly postmenopausal women did 12 months of periodized resistance training twice weekly and showed increased muscle strength and lean mass with reduced body fat and leptin.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 23 women · 52 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 37 timesPubMed

425. In 133 postmenopausal women, higher physical activity was linked to lower CRP levels, but this association was explained by lower body fat in more active women.

     Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 133 women · 2003PostmenopausalCited 29 timesPubMed

426. Postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of Bungy Pump Training, 3 times weekly, and showed greater gains in fitness and reductions in visceral fat and body fat than women doing daily activity.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 56 women · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

427. Postmenopausal women aged around 62 did 16 weeks of resistance training, gaining 32 to 98% in strength, with bone mineral density unchanged and a small decrease in body weight.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 27 women · 16 weeks · 1998PostmenopausalCited 39 timesPubMed

428. In Australian women aged 47 to 52 followed for 21 years, those who met recommended physical activity levels over 18 years had a lower incidence of obesity than those who did not meet them.

     Reported an improvementCohort study · 779 women · 2026Midlife womenPubMed

429. Fifteen postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome did 12 weeks of treadmill HIIT and showed improved fitness, reduced inflammatory markers, and increased anti-inflammatory IL-10.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 15 women · 12 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed

430. In 35 pre and postmenopausal women with higher body fat, 12 weeks of resistance training lowered body fat in premenopausal women and improved grip strength and other fitness measures in both groups.

     Mixed resultsBefore-and-after study · 35 women · 12 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 19 timesPubMed

431. Postmenopausal women did 19 weeks of community-based high- and odd-impact, resistance and balance training and showed reduced body fat and modest bone density gains but no change in strength or balance.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 22 women · 19 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

432. In 137 overweight, sedentary postmenopausal women, a cross-sectional study found higher physical activity energy expenditure was linked to better insulin sensitivity and lower metabolic syndrome risk.

     Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 137 women · 2008PostmenopausalCited 17 timesPubMed

433. Forty obese, sedentary postmenopausal women walked three days a week with calorie restriction, and greater gains in aerobic fitness were linked to greater reductions in visceral fat.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 40 women · 2001PostmenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed

434. In middle-aged women, a 12 week mobile autonomy support program with physical activity and diet guidance reduced waist circumference and systolic blood pressure.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 12 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed

435. In postmenopausal women in a weight loss trial, higher leisure-time physical activity was associated with lower body mass index, waist circumference, body fat and more favorable cholesterol regardless of sleep quality.

     Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 393 women · 2012PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed

436. Over 24 months, climacteric women practicing yoga showed reduced BMI, body fat, blood pressure and fasting glucose, and higher HDL and estradiol, compared with sedentary controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 182 women · 104 weeks · 2026Midlife womenPubMed

437. A controlled trial of 102 sedentary climacteric women with metabolic syndrome found 24 months of Shivam Yoga reduced fasting glucose, blood pressure, waist circumference and menopausal symptom scores.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 102 women · 104 weeks · 2026Midlife womenPubMed

438. Breast cancer survivors within 2 years of menopause did a 16 to 24 week weighted walking programme, which maintained weight and bone markers without significant change overall.

     No difference foundBefore-and-after study · 26 women · 24 weeks · 2008Early postmenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed

439. Sedentary overweight to obese postmenopausal women did 6 months of combined endurance and resistance training; gains in muscle mass index correlated with worsening insulin resistance.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 48 women · 26 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed

440. In 257 middle-age women, more days and intensity of strength training per week was associated with lower body fat and higher fat-free mass, partly explained by overall physical activity.

     Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 257 women · 2018Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed

441. An 18-week circuit hydraulic weight interval training program in inactive pre- and postmenopausal women reduced body fat and increased muscle mass, with postmenopausal women needing longer training to see muscle gains.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 100 women · 18 weeks · 2025Midlife womenPubMed

442. Postmenopausal women did a 16 week outdoor exercise program combining cardio, strength, balance and flexibility; the exercise group reduced fat mass and visceral fat more than controls, but sleep duration and quality did not improve.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 75 women · 16 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed

443. Postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes did combined strength and aerobic training for 9 months, then stopped for 3 months, then resumed, with glucose control and fitness improving with training and worsening during detraining.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 13 women · 39 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 17 timesPubMed

444. In postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity, 6 months of aerobic exercise plus weight loss produced 8% weight loss but no significant change in cortisol levels.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 60 women · 26 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed

445. In 23 obese pre- and postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of resistance exercise reduced weight and body fat and changed adipose tissue lipolysis protein levels, differing by menopausal status.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 23 women · 12 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 11 timesPubMed

446. In 39 sedentary overweight postmenopausal women, 4 months of walking training reduced fat mass and leptin levels and increased maximal oxygen consumption among adherent participants.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 39 women · 16 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed

447. Postmenopausal women did 9 months of resistance training, and those who gained more trunk fat had higher IL-6 and failed to gain muscle mass, unlike those with less trunk fat gain.

     Direction not statedBefore-and-after study · 22 women · 36 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed

448. 36 obese postmenopausal women did a 6 month diet plus low-intensity walking program, and those with greater drops in fat tissue enzyme activity lost more abdominal fat and regained less weight afterward.

     Mixed resultsBefore-and-after study · 36 women · 26 weeks · 2000PostmenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed

449. 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%.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 48 women · 52 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed

450. Twelve middle-aged women did resistance and aerobic training 3 times weekly for 14 weeks and increased strength and lean tissue, with a small drop in body fat percentage.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 12 women · 14 weeks · 2006Midlife womenCited 12 timesPubMed

451. In 15 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, a 12-week supervised aerobic program raised fitness and lowered weight slightly but did not change fasting insulin or insulin resistance overall.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 15 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed

452. Overweight middle-aged women did a 4-month diet and exercise program; those with greater BMI reduction showed significantly increased serum GPIHBP1 linked to decreased body weight and fat.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 66 women · 16 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed

453. Seven obese postmenopausal women completed a 12 week diet and exercise program and showed reduced body fat, higher fitness, and lower serum and breast ductal estradiol levels.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 7 women · 12 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed

454. Inactive pre and postmenopausal women with obesity did a 16 week walking program and showed reduced insulin resistance, improved fitness and body fat, but increased triglycerides and lower HDL cholesterol.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 29 women · 16 weeks · 2018Midlife womenCited 7 timesPubMed

455. Obese postmenopausal women who walked briskly 3 times weekly for 16 weeks improved fitness and fat loss most when adherence was high, regardless of exercise intensity.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 159 women · 16 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed

456. In middle-aged women with metabolic syndrome, an 8-week resistance exercise program reduced waist circumference and insulin sensitivity index and increased serum osteoprotegerin compared with controls.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 24 women · 8 weeks · 2018Midlife womenCited 7 timesPubMed

457. A review reported that combined diet and aerobic plus strength exercise programmes showed promise for weight control and improved quality of life in breast cancer survivors.

     Reported an improvementOther · 2012Midlife womenCited 162 timesPubMed

458. In a 6-month personalized lifestyle program, 75 women aged 35 to 55 reported reduced waist circumference, lower diastolic blood pressure and improved menopausal symptoms and physical activity.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 75 women · 26 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed

459. Postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of combined strength and aerobic training; both positive and negative HDL responders lost body fat, but only positive responders showed HDL cholesterol gains.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 38 women · 16 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed

460. Postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity did 12 weeks of interval Nordic walking or strength training, both reduced waist circumference, raised HDL, and lowered blood glucose versus controls.

     Reported an improvementControlled trial · 12 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed

461. Twenty-nine postmenopausal women did 24 weeks of alternating aerobic and resistance training, which increased limb bone density and circulating irisin while waist circumference decreased.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 29 women · 24 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed

462. Among 31 menopausal women, those with more years and higher weekly frequency of resistance training had lower trunk fat mass and an association with higher HDL cholesterol.

     Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 31 women · 2022Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed

463. Fifty-nine obese peri- and postmenopausal women did six weeks of HIIT, which reduced blood pressure and anthropometric measures, with menopausal status predicting plasma volume changes.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 59 women · 6 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed

464. In 56 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors, a multimodal exercise and health education program reduced metabolic syndrome prevalence, hypertension, central obesity, and triglycerides, and improved quality of life after 3 months.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 56 women · 12 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed

465. This study design paper describes a planned year long trial comparing high versus moderate volume aerobic exercise in inactive postmenopausal women, with results not yet reported.

     Direction not statedOther · 400 women · 52 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 29 timesPubMed

466. Obese postmenopausal women did a 10 week mixed Nordic walking and strength training program and showed improved fitness, strength, waist to hip ratio and cholesterol levels.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 10 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed

467. Overweight postmenopausal women did a year of combined aerobic and resistance training; those who did not lose fat mass still gained similar strength, fitness, and flexibility as those who did.

     Mixed resultsBefore-and-after study · 31 women · 52 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed

468. Sixty six obese menopausal women followed a structured diet and exercise program for three months and showed reduced weight, blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol, and better quality of life.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 66 women · 12 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed

469. Sedentary postmenopausal women did a 4 week Scottish dancing program twice weekly; it reduced waist circumference and lowered heart rate during a step test but did not change body weight or fat.

     Mixed resultsBefore-and-after study · 24 women · 4 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed

470. This narrative review summarized medical literature finding that regular exercise in midlife and postmenopausal women is linked with reduced obesity, cancer, dementia, mood symptoms, and osteoporosis.

     Reported an improvementOther · 2015Midlife womenCited 56 timesPubMed

471. A review reported that decreased physical activity and menopause-related hormonal changes contribute to midlife weight gain and increased central body fat.

     Direction not statedOther · 2024Midlife womenCited 44 timesPubMed

472. In 38 postmenopausal women with low bone density, 8 months of weekly OsteoStrong sessions did not improve hip or spine bone density, though some physical function measures improved.

     Direction not statedBefore-and-after study · 38 women · 32 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

473. 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

474. Obese postmenopausal women did 8 months of whole body vibration or resistance training, with both groups showing higher bone density at the hip and spine and improved BMI and waist to hip ratio.

     Reported an improvementOther · 80 women · 35 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed

475. 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.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed

476. Obese middle-aged women were followed one year after an 18 week jogging and diet program; researchers reported fitness and cholesterol ratio gains were maintained with continued self-directed training.

     Direction not statedBefore-and-after study · 13 women · 52 weeks · 1991Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed

477. Postmenopausal women with at least 7 years of resistance training felt younger, rated their health higher and had better body composition than untrained peers of similar age.

     Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 46 women · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed

478. Middle-aged Korean women over 40 did 12 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance exercise and showed significant improvements in body composition, blood pressure, fitness and metabolic measures overall.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 185 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenPubMed

479. Nine overweight perimenopausal Japanese women walked over 10,000 steps daily with reduced calorie intake for 12 weeks and showed improved insulin resistance markers but no change in weight or body composition.

     No difference foundBefore-and-after study · 9 women · 12 weeks · 2008PerimenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

480. Fourteen postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on tamoxifen did 12 weeks of resistance training then 12 weeks of detraining, with fat mass decreasing and muscle strength and cholesterol improving after training.

     Reported an improvementOther · 14 women · 12 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed

481. 22 menopausal women completed a 12-week workplace exercise programme of body conditioning, Zumba Gold, Pilates and HIIT, with authors reporting favourable changes in body fat, fitness, menopause symptoms and mental health.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 22 women · 12 weeks · 2026Midlife womenPubMed

482. A cross-sectional study of menopausal women practicing resistance training found metabolically unhealthy women were older, had less RT experience, lower HDL cholesterol and higher visceral adiposity.

     Mixed resultsCross-sectional study · 31 women · 2023Midlife womenPubMed

483. This review reported that resistance training produced beneficial effects on muscle, bone and adipose tissue, improving quality of life in postmenopausal women.

     Reported an improvementOther · 2010PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed

484. Six active postmenopausal women completed a 5-day wild trek and showed increased fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass, peak VO2, and decreased fat mass afterward.

     Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 6 women · 1 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalPubMed

485. A 12 week trial design compared dumbbell resistance exercise and aerobic exercise for physical activity and quality of life in 102 Malaysian breast cancer survivors, stratified by menopausal status, with no results yet reported.

     Direction not statedOther · 102 women · 12 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed

486. A review reported that calcium supplementation plus aerobic training increased femoral neck cortical bone density in postmenopausal women, while exercise also increased trabecular bone in the spine.

     Mixed resultsOther · 1998Midlife womenCited 25 timesPubMed

487. This review reported that physical activity and dietary interventions showed some survival benefits in breast cancer survivors, but evidence that weight loss reduces recurrence remained inconclusive.

     Mixed resultsOther · 2023Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed

488. A review reported that aerobic and resistance exercise in menopausal women was linked to improved cardiovascular fitness, increased bone mineral content, greater muscle strength and reduced body fat.

     Reported an improvementOther · 1990Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed

489. A review reported that postmenopausal women on a very low calorie diet plus exercise program lost visceral and thigh fat proportionally, with exercise alone also improving metabolic markers independent of weight loss.

     Reported an improvementOther · 1997PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed

490. A 12-week RCT protocol will compare time-restricted eating alone or with resistance training against calorie restriction plus resistance training, measuring muscle quantity and quality in postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity.

     Direction not statedOther · 78 women · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed

491. This review reported that resistance training in postmenopausal women appears to improve body composition and may influence adipokines such as leptin, adiponectin and resistin.

     Reported an improvementOther · 2022PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed

492. This review reported that exercise interventions in postmenopausal breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors improved body composition, joint pain, and overall quality of life.

     Reported an improvementOther · 2020PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed

493. A review of 11 studies found aerobic exercise gave a mild protective effect on bone density and reduced fat mass in postmenopausal women with obesity, especially combined with resistance training or caloric restriction.

     Reported an improvementOther · 2024PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed

494. A pilot trial protocol will test whether splitting strength exercises into small daily snacks versus one session improves 12-week adherence in perimenopausal women; results are not yet available.

     Direction not statedOther · 90 women · 24 weeks · 2026PerimenopausalPubMed

495. A trial protocol will compare 12 weeks of urban dance versus functional fitness against a control group for physical and psychological effects in postmenopausal women aged 40 to 59.

     Direction not statedOther · 12 weeks · 2025Early postmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

496. This review discussed observational evidence that low physical activity and excess body fat were linked to poorer survival in women recovering from early-stage breast cancer, regardless of menopausal status.

     Direction not statedOther · 2023Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed

497. A review on midlife weight gain reported that resistance training and Mediterranean diet remain foundational lifestyle strategies for managing menopause-related body composition changes.

     Reported an improvementOther · 2026Midlife womenPubMed