Exercise Approaches for Women in Perimenopause A 6-Week Study Comparing Moderate Exercise, High-Intensity Training, and Stretching to Improve Menopause Symptoms and Health

What this Trial Is About

Women in perimenopause, the years before menopause, often experience symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats that can reduce quality of life. This research investigates how different exercise approaches might help during this time, including following Health Canada guidelines for moderate aerobic activity, performing high-intensity interval training HIIT, or doing stretching exercises. The study is a pilot to assess how easy and enjoyable these exercises are over 6 weeks, aiming to guide a larger future study on health impacts. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 6-week intervention moderate-intensity continuous exercise totaling 150 minutes weekly guided by trainers in-person and virtually high-intensity interval training with alternating periods of intense exercise and rest totaling 75 minutes weekly or twice-weekly virtual instructor-led whole-body stretching classes. Before and after the intervention, various tests and questionnaires will be completed to measure menopause symptoms, stress, quality of life, body composition, and insulin sensitivity. During the study, participants will attend assessments including BodPod body composition scans and oral glucose tolerance testing with blood samples. Questionnaires will evaluate symptoms, stress, and enjoyment of the intervention to track adherence and acceptability. The main outcomes measured at 6 weeks include how well participants stick to and accept their assigned exercise, alongside health measures like insulin resistance, fitness, body fat, menopausal symptoms, mood, heart health, and diet. The study is led by the University of Toronto and runs until June 2026.

Feasibility of Different Types of Exercise Training in Perimenopausal Females