Physical activity helps you live with a smile… and this is also true during menopause. This hormonal transition can cause a number of symptoms, including an increased risk of depression or anxiety. Hormone replacement therapy protects against these symptoms, but what can women who aren't taking it do? Get moving! Researchers from University College London have just confirmed the benefits of physical activity in alleviating certain menopausal symptoms, in a meta-analysis published on October 13, 2026, in the journal Menopause.
Physical activity reduces the symptoms of depression
Researchers found 12 randomized clinical trials on the subject, involving a total of about a thousand women aged between 40 and 65. The majority of studies analyzed the effect of aerobic activities, which increase heart rate (walking or dancing, for example). These activities proved effective in improving mood and reducing symptoms of depression, especially during perimenopause (before the end of menstruation and up to 12 months after), but also afterward, during postmenopause (more than 12 months after the last period), although the effect is less pronounced.
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