Physical activity associated with better metabolic health in menopausal women

A new study from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland found that changes that occur during the menopause including changes in metabolic health may be mitigated with a physically active lifestyle.

Menopause has long been associated with increases in abdominal fat mass, blood pressure, blood glucose levels and changes in HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. The researchers note that whilst metabolic health deteriorates in both men and women due to the ageing process, changes often seem to accelerate in some women in midlife around the time of menopause.

The researchers conducted the study at the Gerontology Research Center in the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä with more than 1300 women aged 47-55. The women’s statistics were measured and monitored over a 4 year period including body composition, blood pressure, blood lipids and glucose levels and physical activity data was recorded. The results showed that a physically active lifestyle was associated with a healthier metabolic risk factor profile with the most active having lower fat mass levels and smaller waist circumference, lower LDL levels and higher HDL levels. The researchers also found evidence that physical activity during this period was also effective for mitigating an increase in systolic blood pressure.