# Home exercise lowered BMI by 0.57 kg/m² in postmenopausal women, a meta-analysis of randomized trials

- Published: 2026-11-11 15:54 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Sport & health
- Tags: home-based exercise, postmenopausal women, body mass index, health-related quality of life, systematic review, meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials, older women, Frontiers in Public Health
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-fd991070cf88fcbc0bdb9f17_home_exercise_lowered/

**A review of nineteen randomized trials with 1,128 women found lower BMI and better quality of life, while effects on physical function and triglycerides remained inconclusive.**

![Home exercise lowered BMI by 0.57 kg/m² in postmenopausal women, a meta-analysis of randomized trials](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/035d2c4c20f509f0.jpg)
*Shixart1985, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0*

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Public Health pooled nineteen randomized controlled trials of home-based exercise in postmenopausal and older women, 1,128 participants in total. The authors searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase from inception to March 2026. They evaluated effects on body composition, muscle strength, physical function, cardiometabolic markers and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). [1]

## Body mass index and quality of life

Home-based exercise significantly reduced body mass index (BMI): the mean difference was −0.57 kg/m² (95% CI: −0.71 to −0.43; I² = 0%). [1] This estimate came from four trials with 197 participants. HRQoL improved significantly, with a standardized mean difference of 0.51 (95% CI: 0.08 to 0.94; I² = 76%). [1]

The authors rated the certainty of the evidence as moderate for BMI and very low for HRQoL. [1]

## Physical function and metabolic markers

Several outcomes did not reach statistical significance. The Timed Up-and-Go test changed by −0.64 s (95% CI: −1.57 to 0.30), and the five-times sit-to-stand test by −1.92 s (95% CI: −4.36 to 0.52). Handgrip strength changed by 1.43 kg (95% CI: −1.02 to 3.88), and the six-minute walk test by 35.16 m (95% CI: −59.96 to 130.29). Body fat percentage changed by −0.31% (95% CI: −0.65 to 0.03), and triglycerides by −8.96 mg/dL (95% CI: −19.45 to 1.52). [1] For the most heterogeneous outcomes, prediction intervals crossed the null. [1]

The review included trials published between 2005 and 2026, in which home sessions made up at least half of all sessions for a minimum of four weeks. Interventions lasted from 4 to 52 weeks, with a median of 12 weeks. Mean participant age ranged from 54.2 to 82.7 years. Fourteen trials enrolled women with chronic conditions and five enrolled healthy women.

The authors note the small number of trials per outcome. They call for further randomized trials with standardized exercise prescriptions, longer follow-up, and routine monitoring of adherence and adverse events. [1]

## Sources

1. [Frontiers in Public Health](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1925532)
2. [bioengineer.org](https://bioengineer.org/home-exercise-lowers-body-mass-index-but-functional-gains-remain-uncertain)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-fd991070cf88fcbc0bdb9f17_home_exercise_lowered/