Many women know mood swings and hot flashes can mark the menopause transition brought on by fluctuations in hormone levels. Fewer women, however, might realize the toll estrogen decline can take on their desire to exercise, zapping their motivation by as much as 70%.
Perimenopause and menopause can ignite a “biological drive to be more sedentary,” a double whammy when coupled with the accelerated bone and muscle loss also common during this stage in life, said Wendy Kohrt, PhD, professor of medicine in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “We can override the biological drive … but you might have to be a little more intentional about it.”
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Why Exercise? Why is exercise important throughout our lives, but especially during midlife? Research shows that people are at greater risk of many diseases if they are sedentary and gain weight. These include diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer and others. |
In the following Q&A, Kohrt explains why the body’s activity impulse often goes AWOL in midlife, ways to incorporate exercise into a routine, why it’s important to avoid becoming “uni-directional,” and how it’s possible to get stronger with age.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.