Effects of a Dietary Intervention Based on the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population on the Reduction of Menopausal Symptoms in Overweight and Obese Women

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Nutritional guidelines on healthy eating based on the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population in printed material and 5 in-person and virtual meetings: The intervention group will participate in five monthly Food and Nutrition Education sessions based on the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population. The first session will be an individual session on nutritional guidance, while the second will be a virtual group session on the NOVA food classification system. The third session will be a virtual group session on nutrition labeling. The fourth session will be a virtual group session on reducing culinary ingredients (salt, sugar, and fat) in food preparation. The fifth session will be an in-person group cooking workshop focused on preparing healthy and practical recipes.

Nutritional guidelines on healthy eating based on the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population only in printed material: The control group will receive nutritional guidance on healthy eating based on the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population, provided exclusively as printed material distributed at the start of the study. The guidance will be standardized, with no individual follow-up or in-person meetings.

Study summary

The menopausal transition is associated with significant hormonal changes that negatively impact many women's quality of life. Vasomotor symptoms, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and genitourinary symptoms are frequently reported during this period. Concurrently, there is a tendency toward increased body weight and fat redistribution, specifically central fat accumulation, which raises the risk of metabolic diseases. Although hormonal therapy is effective, it is not suitable for all women, necessitating the consideration of non-pharmacological strategies as therapeutic alternatives. Scientific evidence indicates that healthy dietary patterns and weight loss are associated with reduced menopausal symptom severity.

The objective of the research is to evaluate the effects of a dietary intervention based on the guidelines of the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population (GAPB) on the reduction of menopausal symptoms.

A randomized clinical trial will be conducted to assess whether improving dietary quality and reducing body weight contribute to alleviating menopausal symptoms. Participants will be assigned to two groups: a control group (CG) and an intervention group (IG). Both groups will receive nutritional guidance based on the GAPB; however, the CG will receive the guidelines in printed format, whereas the IG will receive them through group sessions. The study will include perimenopausal or postmenopausal women who are overweight or obese and experiencing menopausal symptoms. Validated instruments will be administered at the beginning and end of the study to assess dietary patterns, menopausal symptoms, and nutritional status.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Menopausal Symptoms — From the enrollment period to the end of the study: 5 months.
  Baseline and outcome variables will be collected for both groups (control and intervention) prior to the start and at the end of the five-month follow-up period. Menopausal symptom intensity, measured using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) questionnaire, will be the primary outcome indicator. This instrument assesses 11 symptoms on a scale of 0 to 4, where 0 indicates no complaints, 1 mild, 2 moderate, 3 severe, and 4 very severe, with a maximum possible score of 44 points.

Trial sites (1)

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