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News
Combining hormone replacement therapy with exercise delivers the greatest boost to insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women, according to interim results from a 12-week randomized study presented at EASD 2026. Exercise — with or without HRT — also meaningfully improved strength and aerobic capacity, while the combo edged ahead on fat mass reduction. Cardiovascular risk markers, however, remained largely unchanged across all groups.
Postmenopausal women looking to protect their metabolic health may get the most benefit from pairing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with a structured exercise program. Interim results from a 12-week randomized trial, presented at the EASD 2026 Annual Meeting in Milan, found that the HRT-plus-exercise group showed the largest reduction in HOMA-IR — a key marker of insulin resistance — compared to either intervention alone. Exercise on its own still outperformed HRT alone, offering a meaningful alternative for women who prefer to avoid hormone therapy.
Beyond insulin sensitivity, both exercise groups saw substantial gains in physical strength and aerobic capacity, with the combined group also showing a slight edge in fat mass reduction. Cardiovascular risk markers — including blood pressure and lipid levels — remained broadly stable across all groups, though a ~6 mmHg blood pressure dip in the combined group hints at potential future benefit.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Menopause brings a cascade of metabolic changes that raise cardiovascular and diabetes risk. These findings suggest that combining HRT with exercise may offer a synergistic edge — but even exercise alone delivers real, clinically meaningful benefits for women who can't or won't use HRT.
