Evidence was insufficient to show whether exercise is an effective treatment for vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
One small study suggested that HT is more effective than exercise .
Evidence was insufficient to show the relative effectiveness of exercise when compared with HT or yoga
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that many perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women will experience menopausal symptoms ; hot flushes are the most common .
Symptoms caused by fluctuating levels of oestrogen may be alleviated by hormone therapy ( HT ) , but a marked global decline in its use has result ed from concerns about the risks and benefits of HT .
Consequently , many women are seeking alternatives .
As large numbers of women are choosing not to take HT , it is increasingly important to identify evidence -based lifestyle modifications that have the potential to reduce vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
OBJECTIVES To examine the effectiveness of any type of exercise intervention in the management of vasomotor symptoms in symptomatic perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .
An intensive behavioral weight loss intervention and hot flushes in women.
BACKGROUND Higher body mass index is associated with worse hot flushes during menopause but the effect of weight loss on flushing is unclear . METHODS Self-administered question naires were used to assess bothersome hot flushes in a 6-month r and omized controlled trial of an intensive behavioral weight loss program ( intervention ) vs a structured health education program ( control ) in 338 women who were overweight or obese and had urinary incontinence .  Weight , body mass index , abdominal circumference , physical activity , calorie intake , blood pressure , and physical and mental functioning were assessed at baseline and at 6 months . Repeated- measures proportional odds models examined intervention effects on bothersome hot flushes and potential mediating factors . RESULTS Approximately half of participants ( n = 154 ) were at least slightly bothered by hot flushes at baseline . Among these women , the intervention was associated with greater improvement in bothersome flushes vs control ( odds ratio [ OR ] for improvement by 1 Likert category , 2.25 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 1.20 - 4.21 ) . Reductions in weight ( OR , 1.32 ; 95 % CI , 1.08 - 1.61 ; per 5-kg decrease ) , body mass index ( 1.17 ; 1.05 - 1.30 ; per 1-point decrease ) , and abdominal circumference ( 1.32 ; 1.07 - 1.64 ; per 5-cm decrease ) were each associated with improvement in flushing , but changes in physical activity , calorie intake , blood pressure , and physical and mental functioning were not related . The effect of the intervention on flushing was modestly diminished after adjustment for multiple potential mediators ( OR , 1.92 ; 95 % CI , 0.95 - 3.89 ) . CONCLUSION Among women who were overweight or obese and had bothersome hot flushes , an intensive behavioral weight loss intervention result ed in improvement in flushing relative to control . Trial Registration clinical trials.gov Identifier : NCT00091988
Evidence was insufficient to show whether exercise is an effective treatment for vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
One small study suggested that HT is more effective than exercise .
Evidence was insufficient to show the relative effectiveness of exercise when compared with HT or yoga
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that many perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women will experience menopausal symptoms ; hot flushes are the most common .
Symptoms caused by fluctuating levels of oestrogen may be alleviated by hormone therapy ( HT ) , but a marked global decline in its use has result ed from concerns about the risks and benefits of HT .
Consequently , many women are seeking alternatives .
As large numbers of women are choosing not to take HT , it is increasingly important to identify evidence -based lifestyle modifications that have the potential to reduce vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
OBJECTIVES To examine the effectiveness of any type of exercise intervention in the management of vasomotor symptoms in symptomatic perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .