Research

Mixed

A combined weight loss intervention using meal replacements and guided aerobic exercise produces comparable total weight loss in pre- and postmenopausal women, but postmenopausal women experience superior metabolic risk factor improvements and preserve lean body mass more effectively.

For postmenopausal women, a structured weight loss program using meal replacements and supervised aerobic exercise is highly effective. While total weight loss may be similar to younger women, the metabolic benefits (blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose) are often greater, and muscle mass is better preserved. Focus on high-protein meal replacements and consistent aerobic activity to maximize these benefits.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Both groups achieved a substantial and comparable weight loss... However, in contrast to premenopausal women, weight loss in postmenopausal women was exclusively due to a reduction of fat mass... Blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and glucose improved significantly only in postmenopausal women
Peter Deibert et al. · Nutrition Journal · 2007

Why this rating

Single-arm study with a control group comparison (pre- vs. postmenopausal) but no placebo or active control group; small sample size (n=72).

Source

Effect of a weight loss intervention on anthropometric measures and metabolic risk factors in pre- versus postmenopausal women

Peter Deibert et al. · Nutrition Journal · 2007

DOI 10.1186/1475-2891-6-31

clinical_trial · n=72Cited 103×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →