A meta-analysis of 26 RCTs in postmenopausal women found exercise reduced depression, with mind-body exercise ranked most effective, and also improved anxiety.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,170 participants pooled · 2024PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 61 RCTs with 4,100 postmenopausal women found aerobic exercise lowered blood pressure, improved lipid profile, and reduced anxiety, with no significant effect on depression or total cholesterol.
Mixed resultsMeta-analysis · 4,100 participants pooled · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
A network meta-analysis of 33 RCTs in postmenopausal women found resistance, mind-body, aerobic, and combined exercise all reduced depressive symptoms, with resistance and mind-body exercise ranking highest.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,607 participants pooled · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
A network meta-analysis of 23 RCTs found aerobic exercise, multimodal exercise and stretching were most effective at reducing depressive symptoms in peri and postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2025Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed
A network meta-analysis of 23 trials in postmenopausal women found exercise generally improved anxiety and depression more than control, with mind-body training ranking most favorably.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,298 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
Overweight postmenopausal women did 12 months of diet, aerobic exercise, or both; combined diet and exercise improved quality of life and stress more than exercise alone.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 439 women · 52 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 133 timesPubMed
In sedentary perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of facility-based aerobic exercise three times weekly did not reduce hot flush frequency or bother versus usual activity.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 248 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 135 timesPubMed
A review of controlled trials found exercise trials for hot flushes gave mixed results, while one yoga trial reduced hot flushes and improved cognitive symptoms more than exercise.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2014Midlife womenCited 27 timesPubMed
Among sedentary peri and postmenopausal women randomized to yoga, aerobic exercise or usual activity plus omega-3 or placebo, omega-3 did not improve hot flush frequency, bother, sleep or mood versus placebo over 12 weeks.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 355 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 63 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 13 RCTs with 1,470 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women found aerobic exercise, yoga, Pilates, resistance training, stretching and relaxation improved sleep quality and psychological wellbeing.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 1,470 participants pooled · 2025Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
Mostly sedentary, overweight middle-aged women at work took part in a 10-minute workplace aerobic dance exercise break, with high participation but mixed effects on self-rated health and energy.
Reported a worseningRandomised trial · 449 women · 2004Midlife womenCited 55 timesPubMed
In an 88 woman 12 week RCT, postmenopausal women practicing Hatha yoga reported lower menopausal symptom and depression scores and higher quality of life than control and exercise groups.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 88 women · 12 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 48 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal women with depressive symptoms did guided square dance 60 to 90 minutes, 5 times weekly for 3 months, and reported significantly lower depression scores than a no-intervention control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 50 women · 12 weeks · 2016PerimenopausalCited 45 timesPubMed
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
In 176 recently postmenopausal sedentary women, unsupervised aerobic training four times weekly for 24 weeks reduced night sweats, mood swings, and irritability more than health lectures.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 154 women · 24 weeks · 2012Early postmenopausalCited 32 timesPubMed
In 23 healthy premenopausal, middle-aged women, three months of aerobic or strength exercise both improved many premenstrual symptoms, with the aerobic group improving more, especially premenstrual depression.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 23 women · 12 weeks · 1993Midlife womenCited 53 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women who did supervised aerobic or resistance exercise 3 days a week for 8 weeks reported improved menopausal symptoms, lower depression and better quality of life, with no change in lipid profiles.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 8 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 31 timesPubMed
In 400 inactive postmenopausal women, a year of aerobic exercise at 300 versus 150 minutes per week showed no additional benefit for quality of life, sleep or mood.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 400 women · 52 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
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
Overweight postmenopausal women in a 12-month weight loss program with aerobic exercise and vitamin D or placebo showed no improvement in depressive symptoms or quality of life from vitamin D.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 52 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 33 timesPubMed
Early postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of twice-weekly jazz dance; the dance group showed improved menopausal symptoms, anxiety, depression and stress scores versus control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 47 women · 16 weeks · 2025Early postmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of jazz dance or concurrent aerobic and resistance training; both reduced anxiety, depression and stress, with some differences in timing and mood domains.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 70 women · 16 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed
In 42 postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of Zumba training improved postural balance, lower limb strength, mood, and quality of life compared with baseline.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 42 women · 12 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women followed 24 months after a year of moderate or high volume aerobic exercise, quality of life and sleep outcomes did not differ between the two exercise doses.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 333 women · 104 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalPubMed
Sedentary middle-aged women did a graded treadmill test; obese women reported lower pleasure and energy during exercise than normal-weight or overweight women.
Reported a worseningOther · 2010Midlife womenCited 102 timesPubMed
A review of trials in menopausal women reported that aerobic exercise and yoga were linked to improved mood, quality of life, insomnia and some vasomotor symptoms compared with no exercise.
Reported an improvementOther · 2009Midlife womenCited 66 timesPubMed
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
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.
Mixed resultsOther · 1990Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed
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
A review described how regular physical activity including aerobic exercise, resistance training and yoga in midlife women supports cognition, sleep, mood and reduces chronic disease risk.
Reported an improvementOther · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
Seven perimenopausal women who played walking football reported physical and mental health benefits, including reduced depressive symptoms and a supportive social environment.
Reported an improvementOther · 7 women · 2025PerimenopausalPubMed