Scholarly Article
Effect of exercise on obesity among postmenopausal women: A Systematic Review
Shyam, Ganvir, Nandini , Soni, Pratik, Ingle, Akanksha , Chandak
2025-12-31 · VIMS JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY · DVVPF's, College of Physiotherapy
Abstract
Background: Obesity is highly prevalent among postmenopausal women due to estrogen deficiency and age-related metabolic changes, predisposing them to cardiometabolic complications. Exercise is a widely promoted non-pharmacological strategy; however, evidence regarding its effectiveness across different modalities remains inconsistent. Objective: To systematically review randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of exercise interventions on obesity-related outcomes among postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted for English-language randomized controlled trials published between January 2015 and December 2025. Studies included postmenopausal women receiving exercise-only interventions (aerobic, resistance, high-intensity interval training, or combined) compared with non-exercise controls, reporting obesity-related outcomes. Study selection followed PRISMA guidelines, and quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Results: Six trials met inclusion criteria with moderate methodological quality (PEDro scores 5-7). Aerobic, resistance, high-intensity interval, and combined training produced reductions in total and trunk fat, visceral adiposity, and waist circumference, with improvements or preservation of fat-free mass compared with control conditions. High-intensity interval or combined protocols showed greater effects on abdominal and visceral fat. Conclusion: Exercise interventions are effective in improving obesity-related outcomes in postmenopausal women, with high-intensity interval and combined aerobic-resistance training demonstrating particularly favorable changes in abdominal and visceral adiposity. Larger, rigorously designed trials are needed to optimize exercise prescriptions in this population. Keywords: Postmenopausal, women, obesity, resistance training, body mass index
Keywords
: Postmenopausal, women, obesity, resistance training, body mass index
Citation Details
VIMS JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, pp. 2-6