Exercise good for mood and quality of life during menopause – analysis

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By Emma Wilkinson and Ella Pickover, Press Association

Physical activity can improved depressive symptoms, mood and overall quality of life for women going through the menopause, researchers have concluded.

A meta-analysis of 12 randomised controlled trials of more than 1,000 women also found that mind-body exercise – such as yoga, tai chi, pilates and stretching – improved a woman’s ‘psychological quality of life’.

Reporting the findings in the Menopause Journal, the team said significant reductions in depression related to exercise were found in perimenopause and early post-menopause, with other improvements seen in the early post-menopausal period.

Aerobic-based exercise, such as walking, Zumba, dance and taekwondo also tended to need fewer sessions for benefits to be seen, which may be easier for women to fit into their lives, the researchers from University College London said.

“Physical activity is an effective, accessible, non-pharmacological strategy to support psychological well-being and quality of life during midlife menopause,” said senior author of the study, Professor Aimee Spector, director of the UCL Menopause Mind Lab.