Do Women Really Need a Menopause Workout?
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- Liz Birenbaum, 60, found a strength training program tailored for postmenopausal women, helping her manage symptoms like hot flashes and broken sleep while improving muscle and bone density.
- After being laid off during the pandemic, Birenbaum took up tennis and boxing but recognized the importance of weightlifting, leading her to join the "Midlife Movement Program" on The Sculpt Society platform.
- The program combines resistance workouts with educational videos on hormonal changes, providing a supportive environment that contrasts with the judgment she felt at traditional gyms.
- Strength training for midlife women is gaining cultural prominence, with many fitness brands developing specialized programs to address the unique needs of women over 40 and those experiencing perimenopause.
- The growing market reflects demographic trends, as about half of U.S. women are over 40 and two million enter perimenopause annually, prompting the fitness industry to cater to this segment, though questions remain about whether these programs fulfill genuine needs or create new ones.