A Study on the Need for Dietary Management due to Weight Changes Among Middle-aged Women in Gwangju during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the need for dietary management due to weight changes among middle-aged women in the Gwangju area during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this, a survey was conducted of their eating habits, dietary and lifestyle habits, alterations in food intake, and changes in menopausal symptoms. Overall, significant differences were found between dietary and lifestyle habits (<i>p</i> <.01) depending on the frequency of eating out. Specifically, those who eating out two to three times a week exhibited a significant increase in negative habits such as ordering delivery food and consuming instant meals. In terms of food consumption changes, those who eating out two or three times a week displayed a relatively higher increase in the consumption of non-recommended food than those who eating out once a week. Regarding changes in menopausal symptoms, individuals who eating out two to three times a week experienced a greater increase in the severity of menopausal symptoms than those who eating out once a week. In terms of dietary and lifestyle habit changes, it was found that the more frequent the exercise, the greater the overall improvement in dietary and lifestyle habits (<i>p</i> <.001). Moreover, women who did not experience weight gain exhibited positive changes in their dietary and lifestyle habits compared with women who experienced weight gain. The results for food consumption changes revealed that the consumption of non-recommended foods was higher in middle-aged women who experienced weight gain, particularly the consumption of meat (<i>p</i> <.001) and noodles (<i>p</i> <.05). Finally, significant differences (<i>p</i> <.001) in menopausal symptoms due to weight changes were found.