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Impact of aerobic training on body composition profiles among postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled randomized trials comparing aerobic exercise to no exercise in postmenopausal women with overweight or obe…
Signal score70Research triage score
CertaintyMixed (low to moderate across outcomes as reported in abstract)Verify in full text
PMID42251396Source identifier
Research triage, not medical advice
Do not use this summary, score, or benefit-cost estimate to diagnose, treat, prescribe, or change care without reviewing the full study and consulting qualified professionals.
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Plain-English signal
This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled randomized trials comparing aerobic exercise to no exercise in postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity. Across 16 trials (1,571 participants), aerobic training led to small to modest reductions in body weight (about 2.2 kg), body fat percentage (~1.4%), fat mass (~1.8 kg), waist (~2.0 cm) and hip (~1.4 cm) circumferences compared with no exercise. Evidence for increases in lean body mass was imprecise. The authors did not find clear non-linear dose-response patterns, though some analyses suggested effects might level off at higher exercise volumes. The paper notes uncertainty in some outcomes and calls for better reporting of exercise dose, adherence, diet control, and follow-up in future trials.
Why it matters
- Addresses whether aerobic exercise changes multiple body composition measures (weight, body fat %, fat mass, waist and hip circumferences, lean mass) in postmenopausal women with overweight/obesity - a high-prevalence clinical population with cardiometabolic risk.
- Provides pooled randomized-trial estimates and explores dose-response, which could inform exercise prescription (volume/intensity) for this demographic.
- Findings may influence preventive care, community exercise programming, and guideline prioritization for weight/adiposity management in postmenopausal women.
Primary outcomes
- Body weight
- Body fat percentage
- Fat mass
- Waist circumference
- Hip circumference
Effect summary
Abstract-reported pooled results: aerobic exercise vs non-exercise reduced body weight (MD = -2.17 kg; low certainty reported for weight), body fat percentage (MD = -1.40%; moderate certainty), fat mass (MD = -1.83 kg; moderate certainty), waist circumference (MD = -2.02 cm; moderate certainty), and hip circumference (MD = -1.39 cm; low certainty). Lean body mass pooled estimate was positive but imprecise (MD = 0.72 kg; low certainty). No clear non-linear dose-response was observed, though some curves suggested possible plateau-like patterns. Baseline age inversely associated with weight and BMI change.
Benefit-cost lens
| Quick take | Aerobic training produced modest reductions in adiposity measures versus non-exercise control; translating this into BCR requires local baseline risk, program costs, and target population size. |
|---|---|
| BCR anchor | 2 |
| Time horizon | 3 |
| Discount rate | 0.03 |
| Assumptions | Summary relies on abstract-reported pooled mean differences and certainty assessments; full-text needed to verify included trials, adherence, comparator details, harms, and dose metrics before economic modelling. |
Benefit-cost fields are assumptions-based unless explicitly source-derived. Treat them as prompts for deeper economic review.
Risk of bias
| Tool | rapid-abstract-screen |
|---|---|
| Verdict | Some concerns |
| Notes | Assessment based on abstract and study type only. While included studies are RCTs, the abstract indicates variability in certainty across outcomes and potential heterogeneity; a full RoB 2 or similar trial-level assessment is required to judge bias from randomization, deviations, missing data, measurement, and selective reporting. |
Harms, equity, conflicts & implementation
| Implementation | To implement findings, need full-text verification of exercise prescriptions (mode, intensity, frequency, duration), adherence and retention data, staff and facility requirements, participant eligibility, and local cost estimates. |
|---|---|
| Equity impact | Unclear from abstract. Equity implications depend on access to supervised or community exercise programs, socioeconomic barriers to participation, and whether subgroup effects (e.g., by age, ethnicity, comorbidity) differ; full text may report moderators. |
| Harms | No harms reported in abstract. Harms, adverse events, and trade-offs are not detailed and require full-text review of included trials. |
| Replication | Unknown from abstract-only triage; replication would require reviewing included RCTs and independent syntheses. |
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