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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
In 288 overweight postmenopausal Chinese women, a 3-month theory-based education program raised physical activity and diet behavior and improved weight, waist circumference and blood pressure versus conventional education, sustained to 12 months.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 288 women · 52 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
Overweight middle-aged women followed a 2.5 year diet and exercise program; early weight loss shrank over time, but increases in physical activity grew larger over 6.6 years.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 130 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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