A Descriptive Study to Assess the Unhealthy Lifestyle among Perimenopausal Women in a Selected Medical College Hospital, Mangaluru

Abstract Introduction The perimenopausal phase, also known as the menopausal transition, marks a crucial period in a woman's life, characterized by hormonal fluctuations and physiological changes. During this transitory period, lifestyle factors are critical in influencing health outcomes. Lifestyle Appraisal focuses on identifying the lifestyle factors and habits that may affect a woman's health throughout the perimenopausal period. Methods and Materials The objective of the study was to identify perimenopausal women with unhealthy lifestyle practices using a lifestyle appraisal questionnaire. The study used descriptive design to determine the unhealthy lifestyle among perimenopausal women in the age group of 45 to 55 years. A complete enumerative sampling was used to select the 148 participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Every participant completed the self-reported lifestyle assessment questionnaire (LAQ), except for the questions where the researcher measured blood pressure, height, and weight (body mass index [BMI]) with standard protocol. Results Unhealthy lifestyle habits persist in women. The average lifestyle appraisal score was 19.17 ± 6.88, ranging from 8 to 35. The higher the score, the unhealthy their lifestyle. The tool's highest possible score is 73. The majority of the subjects did not engage in regular exercise (43.9%), recreational activities (62.8%), or relaxation exercises (81.1%). A substantial number (54.1%) of women had encountered one to two stressful events in the last 6 months, with friends and family occasionally available for support (64.7%). None of them received love and affection every day, but rather on an occasional basis (69.6%). Most (81.1%) reported consuming meals with fruits and vegetables only two to three times a week, while fatty foods or sweets were ingested daily (60.1%). Furthermore, most (45.3%) participants were classified as overweight, with a BMI falling between 23 and 24.9. Conclusion Simple screening methods can be used to evaluate health and lay the groundwork for understanding a person's lifestyle, which helps preserve and encourage a healthy way of life.