Detrimental Changes in Health during Menopause: The Role of Physical
                    Activity

Ryan M. Hulteen; Kara L. Marlatt; Timothy D. Allerton; Dragana Lovre

doi:10.1055/a-2003-9406

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2023; 44(06): 389-396
DOI: 10.1055/a-2003-9406

Review

Detrimental Changes in Health during Menopause: The Role of Physical Activity

Authors

Ryan M. Hulteen

¹Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States
Kara L. Marlatt

²Clinical Science, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, United States
Timothy D. Allerton

³Basic Science, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, United States
Dragana Lovre

⁴School of Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, United States

⁵Medicine, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, United States

Abstract

Midlife women experience changes in cardiometabolic, physical, and psychosocial health during menopause that negatively impacts their overall quality of life. Factors that contribute to these increases in cardiometabolic risk include weight gain as well as increases in fat mass (particularly abdominal adiposity), insulin resistance, and vascular dysfunction. Other deleterious changes in physical health (e. g. reduced sleep health, bone density, and balance) as well as changes in psychosocial health (e. g. mood, anxiety, and depression) often coincide and are linked to these increases in cardiometabolic risk. Physical activity and exercise are important lifestyle components that have been demonstrated to improve cardiometabolic, physical, and psychosocial health, yet physical activity and exercise is known to decline during perimenopause and into the postmenopausal years. In this narrative review, we summarize these changes in overall health during menopause as well as how declining physical activity contributes to these changes. Additionally, we discuss how incorporating physical activity and exercise during menopause can potentially ameliorate health declines. We conclude that there exists a significant, positive impact of physical activity on cardiometabolic, physical, and psychological health among midlife women, particularly if undertaken during the perimenopausal and postmenopausal years.

Key words

menopause - physical activity - exercise - metabolism - adiposity - insulin resistance

Full Text

References

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