Does high-intensity intervals affect cholesterol and lipids in menopause? What 11 studies found

A network meta-analysis of 51 RCTs in postmenopausal women found HIIT, aerobic and combined exercise significantly lowered triglycerides versus control, while resistance training did not.

Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,046 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed

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

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

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

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

Overweight women aged 35 to 50 did 10 weeks of HIIT or HIIT plus resistance training; strength improved with combined training and lipid and insulin markers improved in both groups, but fitness did not improve.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 27 women · 10 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed

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

In a trial of 58 overweight or obese postmenopausal women, a single high-intensity interval cycling session raised myonectin and fat-related blood markers and lowered triglycerides regardless of morning or evening timing.

Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 58 women · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed

Sedentary postmenopausal women did a single session of high or moderate intensity interval exercise before a high-fat meal, and both reduced post-meal triglycerides compared with rest.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 11 women · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed

Pre and postmenopausal women did a 3 month high-intensity aerobic exercise program, and both groups showed increased plasma apolipoprotein M and sphingosine-1-phosphate levels regardless of menopausal status.

Reported an improvementControlled trial · 75 women · 12 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 7 timesPubMed

A 12-week aquatic HIIT program in postmenopausal women improved blood lipids overall and lowered blood pressure in some genotype groups, with no consistent arterial stiffness benefit.

Reported an improvementControlled trial · 47 women · 12 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed