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 meta-analysis of 23 trials in people with osteoporosis, 95 percent female with an average age of 67, found exercise such as resistance training, balance training and Pilates improved mental health, quality of life and pain.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,120 participants pooled · 19 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalCited 1 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
Postmenopausal women with vertebral fractures did six months of group exercise and coping classes, improving trunk strength and psychological symptoms versus health education controls, with no change in pain.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 185 women · 26 weeks · 2004PostmenopausalCited 63 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
A scoping review of 20 studies found resistance training combined with impact activity improved bone density in menopausal women, with greater benefit when combined with hormone therapy than either alone.
Direction not statedSystematic review · 2025Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed
In 137 overweight postmenopausal women on a 6-month weight loss plan, adding resistance training to caloric restriction did not further improve psychosocial measures beyond diet alone.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 137 women · 26 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 25 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
Perimenopausal women received education, diet guidance, or diet plus resistance exercise for 3 months; all groups reduced climacteric symptom scores, with the combined group showing broad symptom improvement.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 78 women · 12 weeks · 2022PerimenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
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.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 44 women · 39 weeks · 2000PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed
Women over 40 with celiac disease combined a gluten-free diet with resistance exercise for 12 weeks and reported improved urogenital symptoms and higher vigour mood scores versus diet alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 28 women · 12 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
A review reported that postmenopausal women taking high dose creatine may gain skeletal muscle size and function, with favorable bone effects when combined with resistance training.
Direction not statedOther · 2021PostmenopausalCited 62 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 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