Investigating Resistance Training for Vascular Function and Quality of Life in Perimenopausal Women
Women's blood vessel health gets worse after menopause, or the change of life. Some women exercise less during menopause. Exercise can improve blood vessel health. The investigators want to know if resistance exercise, like lifting weights, can improve blood vessel health in women who are just starting menopause. The investigators also want to know if lifting weights can improve mood, sleep, and quality of life in women going through menopause. The investigators will have two groups of women for this study. One group will lift weights (do resistance exercise) twice per week, and the other group will get emails with information about menopause. The investigators will measure blood vessel health, sleep, mood, and menopause symptoms at the start and the end of this study and compare women who did and did not exercise.
• Are between 40-60 years old
• Have had menstrual irregularities in the last 12 months
• Do not currently complete more than two 30-min sessions of structured exercise per week and do not do any resistance training exercise;
• Are not currently pregnant
• Do not smoke or vape nicotine or marijuana
• Have not had an oophorectomy, hysterectomy, or surgical menopause
• Are not currently taking hormone replacement therapy
• Have not taken hormone replacement therapy in the last 6 months
• Are not taking steroidal medication or medication to treat diabetes, cholesterol, or high blood pressure
• Are able to exercise - your doctor has not told you that you cannot exercise
• Can attend a morning study visit at the University of Michigan's School of Kinesiology Building
• Are willing to avoid food 2 hours prior to the morning study visit
• Are willing to avoid strenuous exercise, caffeine, and alcohol, 8 hours prior to the morning study visit
• Are willing to participate in an exercise training program or health education program for 16 weeks