Brazil Marks World Menopause Day With New Evidence on Exercise and Focus on Whole‑Person Care

Overview

• New reporting highlights how chronic stress can intensify menopausal symptoms and may disrupt hormonal balance earlier in the transition, reinforcing the need for stress management.
• A UNESP Marília–led study, published in Maturitas, found that supervised exercise about three times weekly for 12 weeks—covering aerobic, resistance, Pilates and aquatic training—delivers measurable benefits for postmenopausal health.
• WHO estimates indicate that more than 29 million women in Brazil are in menopause, driving calls to reframe this stage as a comprehensive health issue that includes physical, emotional and social support.
• Clinicians recommend individualized care that can include hormone therapy when indicated and monitored, regular strength and aerobic training, quality sleep, stress control and routine checks of bone and cardiovascular health.
• Nutrition guidance emphasizes calcium and vitamin D, foods with phytoestrogens such as soy and flaxseed, and reduced ultra‑processed foods and added sugars to ease symptoms and support long‑term well‑being.