The Relationship between Menopause Perception, Body Mass Index, and Waist-Hip Ratio with Menopausal Symptoms in Turkish Women

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between menopause perceptions, feelings felt, body mass index, and waist-hip ratio with menopausal symptoms in Turkish climacteric women. Methods: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted in a Family Health Center. The research sample consisted of 220 women in the climacteric period. Data were collected with the survey form and The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) were measured and calculated by the researchers. Results: The women who perceive menopause as a “natural, normal process” had lower somatic, psychological, and general menopausal symptoms, and those who defined it as “the end of sexuality” had higher genitourinary symptoms (p< .01). Women who were adversely affected or felt negative emotions about menopause reported that they experienced all menopausal symptoms more severely (p< .001). Obese women experienced particularly higher levels of somatic and general menopausal symptoms (p< .05-p< .01), while women with WHR< 0.72 experienced a higher level of genitourinary symptoms (p< .05). Conclusion: The results showed that menopause perception, feelings felt, obesity, and WHR have an impact on menopausal symptoms and levels.