Abstract / Summary
Menopause is a physiological process that causes changes in many aspects of women's health, including eating behavior. Therefore, this research investigated the association between menopausal symptoms and the dietary patterns adopted by Brazilian women aged 40 to 60 years. This is a cross-sectional study, conducted through the application of an online questionnaire. The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) questionnaire was used to assess menopausal symptoms. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component factor analysis. 101 women were evaluated (21.8% perimenopausal and 78.2% postmenopausal). In the MRS, the overall score was 19.0 ± 7.0, with no differences between the groups (p=0.570). Among the symptoms reported in the MRS, shortness of breath, sweating, and hot flashes were more severe in postmenopausal women (p<0.001), while anxiety showed a higher prevalence in perimenopause (p=0.033). Two dietary patterns were identified (Western and healthy), and 91.1% were classified in the healthy pattern, with no differences between the groups (p=0.973). However, some women consumed ultra-processed foods more frequently on a weekly basis, which requires attention. There was no association between dietary patterns and the severity of menopausal symptoms. This study concluded that the transition to menopause can lead to psychological and emotional changes, which can interfere with the overall well-being of these women. However, it was observed that most participants presented a healthier dietary pattern, suggesting that, over time, greater awareness of the importance of a balanced diet may have occurred.
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