Shedding light on women’s health during menopause
Menopause affects a third of the female population, yet it remains widely misunderstood. Discover how Leeds researchers are helping to change this in a new podcast episode and series of workshops.
This World Menopause Day, the University has released a brand new episode of its How To Fix… podcast, focusing on how to support women to thrive in menopause.
Amongst the experts featured are Dr Hannah Campbell, Sports and Exercise Science Deputy Lead and a lecturer in Applied Human Physiology in the Faculty of Biological Sciences. One of the first registered Clinical Exercise Physiologists in the UK, Hannah’s work focuses on empowering women’s health through physical activity and closing the gender health gap. As Hannah explains:
Women spend around 25% more of their lives in ill health than men, particularly between the ages of 20 to 65 year. My work addresses this by promoting movement and helping women understand their bodies and health through every life stage, particularly during key transitions such as menopause.
Listen to the podcast
In this latest episode, host Rich Williams is also joined by:
- Professor Bee MacPherson, Associate Professor of Clinical Education in the School of Medicine. After experiencing the challenges of perimenopause, Bee now leads workplace and cultural change initiatives to raise awareness.
- Professor Janet Cade, leader of the Nutritional Epidemiology Group and author of a key study on the effects of diet on the start of the menopause.
Watch a preview of the podcast episode on LinkedIn or BlueSky.
Join a workshop
To coincide with the podcast, Hannah is hosting three free ‘Moving through menopause’ workshops designed to help women reconnect with their bodies through movement and shared experience. They are open to women at any stage of the menopause journey.
The sessions will offer a welcoming, inclusive space to explore movement, strength, and connect with others who are navigating the menopause transition.
- Dates: Tuesday 28 October, Thursday 30 October, Tuesday 4 November
- Workshop runs 6.30pm to 8.30pm (arrival from 6pm)
- Location: Gryphons Performance Hub, University of Leeds
Images: Dr Hannah Campbell and the Gryphon Sports Hub, University of Leeds.
The workshops are part of the Festival of Social Science, an annual celebration of research and knowledge about humans and society, led and funded by the UKRI Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Spaces on the workshops can be booked on the Festival of Science website.
“Muscle is our most important organ — especially for women — both physically and mentally,” says Hannah. “By focusing on movement, embodiment, and connection, these workshops highlight how physical activity can enhance not only health and strength but also self-confidence, wellbeing, and belonging during menopause.”
Whether you’re already active, rethinking how you move or are curious about strength training, the workshop offers fresh ideas, new connections and a positive way forward.
Further information
Top image: Podcast promotional graphic, image Adobe Stock
