Effect of Nutrition Education Alone or Combined with Aerobic Exercise on Quality of Life in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and As aging increases throughout the world the number of menopausal women is increasing too. Their quality of life is considered important in all societies. This study aimed at assessing the efficacy of nutrition education alone or combined with aerobic exercise on quality of life in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. This randomized controlled trial was performed in 81 healthy married women aged 45-60 years old in Kaleibar (west north of Iran) during March- June 2013. Using block randomization the subjects were allocated into three groups (n=27 per group). Group I received nutrition education and group II received nutrition education and also performed aerobic exercises, while the control group received no intervention. Menopausal quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL) was applied at baseline, 8, and 12 weeks after the intervention. Data was analyzed using ANCOVA test. Quality of life significantly improved after 8 and 12 weeks in group I while this improvement was observed after 12 weeks in group II. The mean total MENQOL scores in group I was 59.5 before the intervention and 40.1 after 8 weeks [adjusted mean difference: −13.9 (95% CI: −19.3 to −8.5)] and 35.4 after 12 weeks [−22.1 (−27.3 to -17.0]. Also, in group II this score was 58.4 before the intervention, 49.2 after 8 weeks [−4 (−10.2 to 2.2)], and 49.5 after 12 weeks [−6.3 (−11.8 to -0.8)]. No side effects were reported. Nutrition education combined with physical exercise is more effective than the nutrition education alone in improving the quality of life in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.