Original Research Article
Year: 2022 | Month: March | Volume: 12 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 1-10
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20220301
Lifestyle Behaviours and Dietary Habits in an Italian Sample of Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
Myriam Galfo1, Fabrizia Maccati1, Francesca Melini1
1Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Research Center on Food and Nutrition (CREA), Via Ardeatina 546, Rome, 00178 Italy.
Corresponding Author: Myriam Galfo
ABSTRACT
Objective: Menopause is the period when significant changes occur in women and influence their life quality. The aim of this study was to investigate lifestyle behaviours and dietary habits in an Italian sample of pre-menopausal and postmenopausal women.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted May to July 2021 by online platforms. A total of 250 women (130 pre-menopausal and 120 post-menopausal) completed a self-reported questionnaire, comprising questions on demographic characteristics, anthropometrics data, lifestyle behaviours and dietary habits.
Results: Overweight/obesity prevalence was 22.4% with higher values of post-menopausal than pre-menopausal women (25.9% vs 19.2%). Pre-menopausal women were slightly more physically active (67.7% vs 65.8), but with significantly lower percentages when exercised for 60+ minutes (36.2% vs 54.7%; p=0.0130). As to sedentary activities, higher and significant percentage of pre-menopausal women was found compared to post-menopausal women (89.2% vs 67.5%; p <0.0001). Regarding the dietary habit of having breakfast regularly, a significantly higher percentage of post-menopausal than pre-menopausal women (90.0% vs 80.0%) emerged. Multiple logistic regression model showed that smoking, physical activity and sleep duration affected significantly the ponderal status, whereas age, marital status, alcohol consumption, breakfast habit, and sweet consumption were not significant.
Conclusions: Not many differences in lifestyle and eating habits exist between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. The only significant differences relate to physical activity duration, sedentary behaviours and breakfast habit in favor of post-menopausal women. However, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was particularly linked to lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, sleep and physical activity in all participating women.
Key words: Premenopausal women, postmenopausal women, lifestyle behaviours, dietary habits, overweight/obese.