Physical activity may improve depression and quality of life during menopause

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Menopause evaluated physical activity for psychological symptoms and quality of life in perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women aged 40–65 years. Searches through April 2025 identified 12 randomized controlled trials involving 1,003 women. Interventions were compared with alternative physical activity or usual care, with outcomes pooled using random-effects models.

Physical activity improved depression (Hedges g −1.37; 95% CI −1.96 to −0.79), mood (g 0.84; 95% CI 0.40–1.29), psychological quality of life (g 0.66; 95% CI 0.19–1.13), and overall quality of life (g 1.10; 95% CI 0.32–1.88). Depression benefits were observed in both perimenopausal and early postmenopausal subgroups. Aerobic-based interventions improved depression, mood, and overall quality of life, whereas mind-body interventions improved psychological quality of life. Sensitivity analyses largely supported the findings.

The results support considering physical activity as a nonpharmacological component of menopause care. However, eligibility excluded women with chronic physical health problems, limiting applicability to those patients. The supplied report does not provide pooled findings for anxiety, cognition, or stress, despite including these among the review outcomes. The authors emphasize the need for higher-quality trials and clearer menopause staging to strengthen the evidence.