Effect of a yearlong, moderate-intensity exercise intervention on the occurrence and severity of menopause symptoms in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of moderate-intensity exercise on the occurrence and severity of menopause symptoms.


METHODS
A yearlong, randomized, clinical trial, conducted in Seattle, WA, with 173 overweight, postmenopausal women not taking hormone therapy in the previous 6 months. The intervention was a moderate-intensity exercise intervention (n = 87) versus stretching control group (n = 86). Using logistic regression, odds ratios comparing exercise with controls were calculated at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months for menopause symptoms and their severity.


RESULTS
There was a significant increase in hot flash severity and decreased risk of memory problems in exercisers versus controls over 12 months, although the numbers affected were small. No other significant changes in symptoms were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise does not seem to decrease the risk of having menopause symptoms in overweight, postmenopausal women not taking hormone therapy and may increase the severity of some symptoms in a small number of women.
Aiello
Erin J
EJ
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Public Health Sciences, Cancer Prevention Research Program, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
Yasui
Yutaka
Y
Tworoger
Shelley S
SS
Ulrich
Cornelia M
CM
Irwin
Melinda L
ML
Bowen
Deborah
D
Schwartz
Robert S
RS
Kumai
Claudia
C
Potter
John D
JD
McTiernan
Anne
A
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*