Physical activity and menopause-related quality of life – A population-based cross-sectional study

• Physically active women have better life quality compared to inactive women.
• During menopause the recommendation for leisure-time physical activity is important.
• Physical activity increase is important in psychological and physiological domains.
• The long-term effects of physical activity affect the well-being in middle-age.

The aim of the research was to study the association between engagement in the recommended level of physical activity and quality of life (QoL) among middle-aged women.In total, 2606 Finnish women aged 49 years responded to a postal questionnaire on lifestyle, quality of life, and health, wherein QoL was assessed with a shorter version of the menopause-specific Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ). Proportional odds ratios (PORs) from ordered logistic regression models were used to test the association between the physical-activity and WHQ domains or three quality-of-life variables.Physically inactive women had an increased probability of anxiety/depressed mood (POR 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–1.65), of decreased well-being (POR 1.96; 95% CI 1.71–2.25), of somatic symptoms (POR 1.61; 95% CI 1.40–1.85), of memory/concentration problems (POR 1.48; 95% CI 1.29–1.70), and of vasomotor symptoms (POR 1.19; 95% CI 1.03–1.36) as compared to physically active women. Women with the recommended level of physical activity had a higher self-perceived health level, better relative health, and better global quality of life in relation to other women their age.Physically active women showed higher quality of life in four menopause-specific WHQ dimensions and in global quality of life when compared to inactive women.