Exercise such as walking and yoga eases depression and lifts mood during menopause

A meta-analysis conducted by University College London examined twelve randomized trials with a total of 1,003 participants between 40 and 65 years old to assess how exercise influences mental health during menopause. The study, published in the Menopause Journal, concluded that both aerobic activities—such as walking, Zumba, dance and taekwondo—and mind-body practices like yoga, tai chi, Pilates and stretching significantly lowered depression scores and raised overall quality of life, especially in perimenopausal and early post-menopausal phases.

Group-based formats were common, indicating that peer support may amplify the psychological gains. Senior author Professor Aimee Specto described physical activity as an accessible, non-drug strategy for midlife women, while lead author Simone Saidel highlighted its relevance for those unable or unwilling to use hormone therapy. The findings add to a broader body of research, including a recent Nature Medicine paper that mapped abrupt physiological changes at the final menstrual period, underscoring the need for diverse symptom-management options.