Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease and a culprit in other diseases as well. It can also augment medications to improve depression and anxiety. Muscle and bone health. Physical activity performed during younger years will help you have good bone mass at menopause. Even physical activity begun during menopause will help slow the loss of bone.
Exercise strengthens muscles and increases joint flexibility and motion.
Heart attacks and strokes. Before menopause, women have less cardiovascular disease than men do, but after menopause women's risk is close to men's. Certain risk factors for cardiovascular disease can be reduced with exercise. These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and inactivity. Quitting smoking is also important.