International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews · Jun 2026
"Nutritional Intake, BMI, and Age: Correlates of Health Outcomes in Menopausal Women"
By Alisha Q, Deepti S, Archana S
Menopause is a critical phase in a woman's life characterized by hormonal, metabolic, and physiological changes that increase the risk of chronic diseases.The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between nutritional intake, body mass index (BMI), age, and health outcomes among menopausal women.A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected from 60 women aged 45-50 years through a structured questionnaire.Descriptive statistics, percentages, and correlation analysis were used for data interpretation.The findings revealed that 43.3% of the respondents were overweight and 35.0% were obese, with a mean BMI of 25.69 ± 4.17.Osteoporosis was the most prevalent health condition (40%), followed by hypertension (30%), cardiovascular disease (28.3%), thyroid disorders (23.3%), diabetes (21.7%), and anemia (15.0%).Correlation analysis showed that age was positively associated with osteoporosis (r = 0.51), cardiovascular disease (r = 0.47), and hypertension (r = 0.42).BMI demonstrated strong positive correlations with blood pressure (r = 0.55) and cardiovascular disease risk (r = 0.58).Conversely, adequate nutritional intake exhibited negative correlations with all health conditions, particularly anemia (r = -0.52),indicating its protective role against disease prevalence.Dietary assessment revealed inadequate consumption of fruits, pulses, and nutrient-dense foods among many participants.The study concludes that increasing age and higher BMI are significant risk factors for adverse health outcomes during menopause, whereas adequate nutritional intake contributes positively to disease prevention and overall well-being.Nutritional counseling, healthy dietary practices, and lifestyle modifications are recommended to promote healthy aging and reduce chronic disease burden among menopausal women.