Impact of aerobic training on body composition profiles among postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
Aerobic exercise produces modest but measurable improvements in body composition in postmenopausal women, even without knowing optimal dose.
This meta-analysis of 16 RCTs in 1,571 postmenopausal women confirms that aerobic exercise training produces modest but statistically significant reductions in adiposity-related outcomes (waist circumference -2.02 cm, fat mass -1.83 kg) with moderate certainty evidence, while effects on lean mass remain uncertain. No clear non-linear dose-response pattern was identified, suggesting that clinically meaningful minimum doses may not yet be established for this population.
What the study was
- Study design
- PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis; 16 RCTs (n=1,571); three-level meta-analyses; restricted cubic spline dose-response modeling; subgroup analyses
- Population
- Postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity (BMI-stratified in RCTs)
- Sample size
- 1571
- Category
- Prevention
- Maturity
- Validated
- Journal
- BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation
Why it surfaced
PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis (16 RCTs, n=1,571) with dose-response modeling in a specific and clinically relevant subpopulation (postmenopausal women with obesity). Moderate certainty evidence for fat mass and waist circumference reduction. Lean mass result uncertain — clinically important gap. Score 7 reflects solid meta-analytic design but modest novelty over existing literature.
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