Activities such as walking, dancing and yoga may help women cope with psychological symptoms of menopause, a study found. Around 13 million women in the UK are thought to be experiencing menopause or perimenopause, which can cause psychological symptoms such as depression, low mood, anxiety, stress and difficulties with thinking and memory.
To find out which physical activities might help women better manage symptoms, researchers at UCL reviewed data from 12 randomised controlled trials involving more than 1,000 women.
The study involved two categories of activity — aerobic-based exercise including walking, Zumba, dance and martial arts, and mind-body activities such as yoga, tai chi and Pilates.
Findings published in the Menopause Journal revealed that aerobic exercises appeared to have the strongest effect on reducing depressive symptoms and improving quality of life, with increased endorphin release linked to mood enhancement.
Aerobic exercise programmes also tended to involve fewer sessions, which may make them easier to fit into life, the researchers said.
Women who participated in mind-body activities also saw strong improvements in psychological quality of life. Examples included one trial in which women attended two weekly 75-minute yoga sessions.
Professor Aimee Spector, senior author and director of the UCL Menopause Mind Lab, said: “Physical activity is an effective, accessible, non-pharmacological strategy to support psychological well-being and quality of life during midlife menopause.
“The majority of the interventions also used group-based formats, likely to foster social connection and peer support, both being factors associated with improved quality of life during menopause.”
Menopause often affects women’s mental wellbeing, either due to changing hormone levels or as a result of other symptoms. For example, some women experience difficulty sleeping, which can increase the risk of depression and anxiety.
The study found that improvements linked to the activities were particularly evident among women in early post-menopause, defined as the stage of life that begins 1 year after a woman’s final menstrual period.
Lead author and NHS clinical psychologist Simone Saidel said: “Treatment options for menopause are limited, with many women being unable to or choosing not to take hormone therapy.
“There are also significant health inequalities in terms of HRT access, and ethnic variations in attitudes towards it.
“This study plays an important role in expanding the options available for symptom management, whereby clinicians may recommend it as an early intervention or an adjunct to medical or psychological treatments.”
The study included data from seven countries — Brazil, China, Tunisia, India, Iran, Korea and USA. The researchers noted that the evidence base for physical activity and menopause remains limited, and more high-quality trials are needed.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
