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
