Reassessing the Best Exercise for the Crucial Postmenopausal and Perimenopausal Years

Menopause is characterized by marked changes in the circulating estrogen of the female body.1As women age, progressively declines in ovarian function lead to a gradual reduction in estrogen secretion that ultimately ceases when menopause is reached.This transitional time is termed the perimenopausal period and itoccurs approximately within one year of its commencement.2Theperimenopausal years are crucial for the future health of femalesas the observed hormonal alterations can lead to a number of psychophysiological changes that can increase the risk of disease ifnot prevented early.2Specifically, during the perimenopausal yearsthe diminished concentrations of estrogens, reduce their protective role on health and contribute to significant physiological disturbances.3Adverse health effects such as reductions in fat-freemass (sarcopenia), accumulation of body fat and intra-abdominalvisceral fat and associated adverse cardiovascular and metabolicimpairments namely hypertension, atherosclerosis and insulinresistance are observed.1Consequently, there is a significantly increased risk in the development of obesity and its comorbiditiesnamely cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, that can reducethe quality of life and dramatically increase the risk of mortality inolder women.