University News Last updated 02 July
Exercise is one of the most effective and underused tools to help navigate the menopause, according to a 91ΑΤΖζ expert.
Professor Kiara Lewis, Professor of Sport and Exercise Sciences, has contributed her expertise to a landmark national menopause campaign, called theΒ
The guide, produced byΒ is following on from their successful campaign in getting the menopause included in the NHS over-40 health check.
The manual, which will be distributed nationally, aims to give women the information they need to make informed decisions about their health before, during and after menopause.
One of the key messages is provided by Professor Lewisβs contribution: regular physical activity can significantly reduce the impact of menopause symptoms, from fatigue and low mood to muscle loss and bone density decline.
βExercise during menopause isn't just about physical fitness, it's about long-term health,β said Professor Lewis.
βEven though the menopause has been given great visibility in recent years, understanding of the symptoms and how to best support women through this stage is still inconsistent.
βI hope that this booklet will encourage more women to get active and that itβs not too late in life to exercise.β
The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week. But Professor Lewis emphasises that strength training is particularly important during this life stage, helping to protect muscle mass, support metabolism and reduce the long-term risk of osteoporosis.
You donβt need a gym membership to get started: wall push-ups, balance exercises and squats with handheld weights all count!
The Manual is part of a wider campaign by Menopause Mandate to update the support and advice women receive from the health service.
βWe are proud to have launched the Menopause Manual alongside the results of the 2025 Menopause Mandate survey,β said Alice Smellie, Director of Menopause Mandate.
β96% of respondents said the menopause had affected their quality of life, but a quarter said that seeing healthcare professionals was not a positive experience.
βWeβve now launched our 2026 survey and are encouraging everyone to complete it so we can develop greater insight into menopause support and how it can be improved for all.β
Image: Menopause Manual launch in June. Credit: Menopause Mandate