Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women

Impact of a Physical Activity Program on Body Composition, Strength, and Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effects of a combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening training program on body composition, physical fitness, and quality of life in overweight or obese postmenopausal women. The main question it aims to answer is: Does this training modality improve body composition, enhance physical fitness, and increase quality of life in this population ? Researchers will compare outcomes between an experimental group following the training protocol and a control group with no training intervention, in order to determine whether the program leads to measurable improvements in these parameters. Participants in the training group will engage in aerobic exercise at 50-70% of heart rate reserve (HRR) and strength training at 60-70% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM), three times per week for 8 months.

Participants in the control group will not engage in any structured physical training and will be asked to maintain their usual daily routines.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Quality of Life; Fitness Testing
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Combined Aerobic and Muscle-Strengthening Training Program

Detailed Description

Overweight and obesity in postmenopausal women are associated with adverse changes in body composition, decreased physical fitness, and a decline in overall quality of life. The postmenopausal period is marked by hormonal changes that contribute to increased fat accumulation, loss of muscle mass, and heightened vulnerability to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. These changes often lead to reduced functional capacity and well-being. Although exercise has been widely recognized as an effective strategy for improving health outcomes, there is a lack of long-term intervention studies combining aerobic and strength training in this specific population. The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate the effects of a combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening training program for 8 months on body composition, physical fitness, and quality of life in overweight or obese postmenopausal women.

Thirty-six overweight/obese postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to either a training (n = 18), or a control group (n = 18). The training group will engage in aerobic exercise at 50-70% HRR and strength training at 60-70% 1-RM, three times per week for eight months. The control group will not participate in any structured physical training and will be instructed to maintain their usual lifestyle habits. Assessments of body composition, physical fitness, and quality of life were assessed before and after the intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • LE (Lecce)
    • Lecce, LE (Lecce), Italy, 73100
      • Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Centro Ecotekne, Pal. B S.P. 6

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age range (50-62 years).
• Postmenopausal women (absence of menstruation > 12 months).
• Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m².
• Body weight remained constant (±2 kg) for the past 3 months.
• Stable dietary habits and physical activity for at least 3 months.
• Sedentary lifestyle (physical activity less than 1 hour per week).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medical contraindications to physical activity.
• Metabolic, hormonal, orthopedic, or cardiovascular diseases.
• Current use of hormone replacement therapy or any prescribed medication.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control group; No training intervention was intended for the control group.
Experimental: Training group; The experimental group performed a combined training program consisting of aerobic training at 50-70% of heart rate reserve (HRR) and muscle-strengthening training at 60-70% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM), three times per week for eight months.	Behavioral: Combined Aerobic and Muscle-Strengthening Training Program; A combined training program including both aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activities within the same session, conducted over a period of 8 months. Aerobic training is performed at an intensity of 50-70% of heart rate reserve (HRR), and strength training at 60-70% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM). The training is conducted three times per week.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body weight	Body weight (kg) was recorded with participants barefoot and wearing light clothing, using the InBody 270 bioelectrical impedance device (InBody, Cerritos, CA, USA).	Baseline (Day 0) and after 8 months of intervention.
Body fat	Body fat (%) was recorded using the InBody 270 bioelectrical impedance device (InBody, Cerritos, CA, USA).	Baseline (Day 0) and after 8 months of intervention.
Body mass index	Body mass index (kg/m²) was calculated as weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²).	Baseline (Day 0) and after 8 months of intervention.
Lean mass	Lean mass (%) was recorded with participants barefoot and wearing light clothing, using the InBody 270 bioelectrical impedance device (InBody, Cerritos, CA, USA).	Baseline (Day 0) and after 8 months of intervention.
Basal metabolic rate	Basal metabolic rate (kcal/day) was assessed using the InBody 270 bioelectrical impedance device (InBody, Cerritos, CA, USA).	Baseline (Day 0) and after 8 months of intervention.
Aerobic Capacity	Aerobic capacity was assessed using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), administered according to standardized procedures, with participants walking on a flat, straight course for six minutes.	Baseline (Day 0) and after 8 months of intervention.
Lower limb functional strength.	Lower limb functional strength was assessed using the 30-Second Chair Stand Test.	Baseline (Day 0) and after 8 months of intervention.
Agility and dynamic balance	Agility and dynamic balance were assessed using the 8-Foot Up and Go (8UG) test.	Baseline (Day 0) and after 8 months of intervention.
Quality of life (SF-36 Questionnaire)	Quality of life was assessed using the Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36), a validated 36-item questionnaire measuring physical and mental health domains.	Baseline (Day 0) and after 8 months of intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wissal Abassi
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Wissal abassi, Dr, Research Unit "Sport Sciences, Health and Movement"(UR22JS01) High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, 7100 Kef, Tunisia.; Principal Investigator: Antonella MUSCELLA, Professor, Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): May 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 9, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 17, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): July 20, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 20, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 17, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Obesity; Quality of life; Physical fitness; Postmenopausal women; Combined exercise; Long-term intervention
• Other Study ID Numbers: PA-MenQL25

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: For confidentiality reasons, all data from this study are available upon request.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No