Search

Background: Postmenopausal women frequently encounter a range of symptoms, including fatigue, diminished physical strength, reduced energy levels, vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes, and vaginal atrophy, all of which adversely affect their overall quality of life. Engaging in physical activity and structured exercise may effectively alleviate these symptoms and enhance overall well-being. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity and quality of life in postmenopausal Greek women. Methods: This cross-sectional clinical study included 219 postmenopausal women. Women with natural menopause for at least 12 consecutive months were enrolled in this descriptive, cross-sectional study. The female participants were asked to fill out the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L) instrument. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height, and waist circumference measurements. Results: A total of 219 postmenopausal women with an age of 61.4 ± 6.1 years and body mass index (BMI) of 25.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2 were studied. Out of the total postmenopausal women studied, 64.8% were physically active. The mean value of MET-min/week was M = 1383.46 ± 1030.12. Physical activity among postmenopausal Greek women showed a strong correlation of PA with quality of life (r = 0.5; p ≤ 0.001) and age (r = 0.55; p ≤ 0.001) and a medium correlation with the HADS (r = 0.4; p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: There was a 64.8% prevalence of physically active postmenopausal Greek women. The findings underscore the significance of fostering physical activity and quality of life among postmenopausal women to formulate efficacious therapeutic interventions. The results demonstrate a correlation between physical activity and the age of female participants, quality of life, and the HADS and can be used to improve postmenopausal women's physical activity levels, which is recommended as a strategy for improving the quality of life in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Considering the fact that, due to recent evidence, many women no longer prefer hormone replacement therapy, it is especially important to develop intervention options to alleviate menopausal symptoms. Although there is conflicting evidence concerning effectiveness, there is an indication that physical activity and weight control may be useful for alleviating symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of physical activity and body mass index on menopausal symptoms among menopausal women in Turkey. Methods 305 women between the ages of 45 and 60 who visited the health center for various reasons were recruited into this cross-sectional study. Menopausal women, who visited one of five family physicians working in the same area, were included in the analyses. The Menopause Rating Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a generic medical and sociodemographic information questionnaire were used. Results Women who were physically active had lower total menopausal (p < 0.001), somatovegetative (p = 0.004), psychological (p = 0.002), and urogenital (p < 0.001) symptom scores than women who were less active. No differences in vasomotor symptoms were recorded related to physical activity level; significant differences were found for most menopausal symptoms, including sleep (p = 0.009) and sexual (p = 0.043) problems, joint and muscular discomfort (p < 0.001) and vaginal dryness (p = 0.016). BMI was not associated with total menopausal symptoms and with the subscales, excluding depressive mood (p = 0.009). A significant increasing trend in the rate of depressive mood was observed from normal through overweight to obese participants. The mean scores of the total menopausal symptoms were lower among the participants who were well educated, currently working and without chronic diseases. Conclusions Physical activity may play an important role in alleviating menopausal symptoms. As part of preventive medicine, primary care physicians should also stress lifestyle changes, including physical activity, to manage menopausal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy restriction from a low-calorie diet and increased energy expenditure induced by physical activity (PA) could promote weight loss/maintenance and be important determinants of breast cancer (BC) prognosis. The aim of this study was to assess participation and adherence of overweight and obese BC survivors to a lifestyle intervention and to demonstrate the capacity of this intervention to induce weight loss and nutritional changes. This single-arm pre-post study, which involved one-hourly weekly diet sessions delivered by a dietician and 75-min bi-weekly PA sessions of moderate-to-high intensity led by PA monitors, was offered to overweight and obese BC survivors shortly after treatment. Before and after the intervention, anthropometry, dietary information, quality of life (QoL) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were collected. A total of 112 BC survivors were invited to participate: 42 of them started the intervention and 37 completed it. Participants attended more than 90 % of the sessions offered and showed a significant weight loss of 5.6 ± 2.0 kg, as well as significant decreases in body mass index, fat mass and waist circumference. Significant decreases in total energy (−25 %), fat (−35 %), saturated fat (−37 %) and carbohydrate (−21 %) intakes were observed while QoL and CRF showed significant increases. This feasibility study demonstrated the success of a short-term diet and PA intervention to induce weight loss and promote healthful changes in BC survivors. Assessing the long-term effects of these changes, and in particular their possible impact of BC prognosis, and designing interventions reaching a wider number of BC survivors are still issues to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observational studies associate obesity and physical inactivity with adverse breast cancer outcome. Whether weight loss/maintenance or increase in physical activity after diagnosis can improve breast cancer outcome is not established. While alcohol use increases breast cancer risk, the role of alcohol in altering breast cancer outcome is not established. Only two full-scale randomized clinical trials have evaluated lifestyle change in early-stage, resected breast cancer and they provide mixed results. Despite strong preclinical evidence and identified potential mediating factors, only one full-scale lifestyle intervention trial is currently ongoing, SUCCESS-C, which will evaluate a program of weight reduction and increased physical activity in an adjuvant setting. On the basisi of current evidence, weight loss/maintenance and physical activity increase/maintenance can reasonably be recommended for breast cancer patients with early-stage disease. However, the strength of the recommendation awaits definitive randomized clinical trial evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity has many and varied effects on the human body. The physiologic effects of physical activity and exercise in persons with cancer have been largely unstudied. Cancer patients as a group are at risk for diseases and conditions related to lack of physical activity. In persons with cancer, exercise has been shown to improve fitness and physical functioning, reduce fatigue, and modestly decrease weight and body fat. The effects of physical activity on prognosis, however, are unknown. In persons without cancer, exercise has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular and endocrine systems, reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes. Increased physical activity reduces risk for several common cancers, which is relevant to cancer survivors who are at increased risk for new primary cancers. Additional benefits of physical activity include improvements in fitness, muscular-skeletal problems including arthritis symptoms, immune system function, cognition and sleep. Risks of increased physical activity in cancer patients and survivors have not been defined, but could be expected to include musculo-skeletal injuries, and a small increased risk in sudden death with vigorous exercise and serious accidents with some sports. The effect of physical activity on survival from cancer is unknown, but physical activity might improve prognosis through beneficial effect on cancer biomarkers and energy balance, as well as decreasing risk for cardiovascular disease, an important cause of death for many cancer survivors. The long-term benefits and risks of physical activity in cancer patients and survivors are unknown. Nevertheless, increasing physical activity is probably beneficial and safe in the majority of cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in the number of cancer survivors, there is a need to understand the effect of physical activity (PA) on cancer prognosis. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate methods used to assess PA and energy expenditure (EE) in exercise interventions following cancer diagnosis and to evaluate the outcomes of these interventions. A literature search of studies up to and including June 2003 was conducted. To be included in the review, studies had to examine the effects of a PA intervention following cancer diagnosis. Forty-three studies met the selection criteria; 21 were randomized controlled trials and 22 were quasi-experimental study designs. The studies vary in terms of the purpose, subjects, study design, variables measured, and level of detail reported in the study manuscript. A focus of most studies was on the feasibility of performing PA interventions in cancer survivors and the effect on psychosocial processes. Very few studies examined the effect of PA on physiological or biological processes, and no studies examined the effect of PA on cancer recurrence or survival. Overall, the studies consistently demonstrated that PA has a positive effect on psychosocial processes, including fatigue and nausea. Many challenges remain pertaining to the study of PA following cancer diagnosis to include subject recruitment and compliance, delivery and assessment of PA, and the measurement of study variables. Future studies are needed that use a randomized controlled design with process, short-term impact, and long-term outcome measures to identify a dose-response effect of increased PA and physical fitness on cancer recurrence and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships among age, comorbidity, and physical activity have been relatively understudied among breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer populations despite their known impact on morbidity and mortality. In this article, we review evidence supporting the efficacy of physical activity interventions in improving cardiovascular risk groups, the elderly and cancer patients. Preliminary studies conducted with older patients suggest that physical activity interventions can reduce fatigue, elevate mood, improve physical functioning, reduce physical role limitations, decrease falls, attenuate losses in bone density, promote weight loss, and modify CHD risk factors. Although relatively few randomized clinical trials have assessed the efficacy of physical activity interventions in cancer patients, the research suggests that these interventions can have both physical and mental health benefits. The implications and limitations of these findings are discussed. Further studies that use larger sample sizes and examine possible moderating variables, such as age, on the efficacy of such interventions are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]