Does impact and jumping affect body fat and weight in menopause? What 9 studies found

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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