Factors Associated with Dietary Control and Physical Activity in the Management of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Menopausal Women

Abstract

The increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among menopausal women necessitates successful management strategies such as applying dietary restrictions and engaging in physical activity to improve their health and quality of life. We investigate factors associated with dietary control and physical activity in 564 menopausal Korean women classified as having MetS who partook in the 2016 and 2017 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). To determine socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle features, and MetS-related characteristics associated with dietary control and physical activity, multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. Of the women with MetS 36.1% applied diet control and 39.5% engaged in physical activity. Women who applied dietary control strategies to improve their health were more likely to be in the 40–49 age group (odds ratio (OR): 3.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25–9.18), to engage in physical activity (OR: 2.24; CI: 1.43–3.52), and to take hypertension medication (OR: 1.66; CI: 1.04–2.67) or diabetes mellitus medication (OR: 2.99; CI: 1.80–4.97). Physically active menopausal women with MetS were more likely to also engage in dieting (OR: 2.32; CI: 1.42–3.51). Accordingly, suggestions can be provided to healthcare workers in designing, not only individual approaches to lifestyle modification but also comprehensive interventions including dietary control and physical activity for menopausal MetS women. Health-care interventions like dietary control, which provide additional support to vulnerable MetS women, should target women aged 60 or above or those who do not take medicines for hypertension and diabetes mellitus.