Multicomponent Exercise Combined with Behavior-Focused Nutrition Education Improves Health Outcomes and Dietary Behaviors in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

INTERVENTION: Behavioral : Participants in the intervention group (MCE+NE) received a supervised 10‐week lifestyle intervention delivered twice weekly for a total of 20 sessions. Each session consisted of 50 min of multicomponent exercise and 25 min of behavior‐focused nutrition education. The multicomponent exercise program integrated aerobic, resistance, balance, flexibility, and functional movement training. Each 50‐min session consisted of a 5‐min warm‐up, 15 min of functional movement and mobility training, 25 min of circuit‐based multicomponent exercise, and a 5‐min cool‐down. Exercise intensity was prescribed using the heart rate reserve (HRR) method and progressively increased from 50% to 85% HRR throughout the intervention period. Functional movement and mobility exercises were performed at moderate intensity, whereas circuit‐based training was conducted at moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity. Heart rate was continuously monitored using a Polar H10 heart rate sensor to ensure adherence to the prescribed intensity. The behavior‐focused nutrition education was designed to promote sustainable dietary behavior change rather than simply increase nutrition‐related knowledge. The curriculum included healthy aging and nutrition, dietary quality, balanced meal planning, protein intake, portion control, healthy food selection, eating‐out strategies, hunger and satiety awareness, home food environment management, and long‐term maintenance of healthy eating behaviors. Behavior change techniques included goal setting, self‐monitoring, action planning, individualized feedback, problem solving, coping planning, environmental restructuring, self‐regulation, and relapse prevention. Participants were encouraged to set personalized health goals, monitor their dietary behaviors, identify barriers to healthy eating, and develop practical strategies for long‐term adherence. Participants in the control group (CON) did not receive any structured exercise or nutrition education during the 10‐week study period and were instructed to maintain their usual lifestyle, including habitual physical activity and dietary behaviors. Thus, the primary difference between the groups was that only the intervention group received supervised multicomponent exercise combined with behavior‐focused nutrition education twice weekly for 10 weeks. CONDITION: Diseases of the genitourinary system PRIMARY OUTCOME: Nutrition Quotient (NQ) total score and domain‐specific scores for Balance, Moderation, and Practice INCLUSION CRITERIA: This study included naturally postmenopausal women who had experienced no menstruation for at least 12 consecutive months, were able to perform activities of daily living independently, and had not participated in any structured exercise program during the previous 6 months. All participants provided written informed consent after receiving an explanation of the study purpose and procedures. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Domain‐specific scores for vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual domains of the Menopause‐Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL‐K) Flexibility (sit‐and‐reach test), relative handgrip strength, muscular endurance (number of sit‐ups completed in 1 minute), and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) Mean daily total energy intake and macronutrient intake and energy contribution from carbohydrates, protein, and fat Waist circumference, blood pressure (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure [PP], and mean arterial pressure [MAP]), glycemic indicators (fasting plasma glucose [FPG] and glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c]), and blood lipid indicators (total cholesterol [TC], high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL‐C], low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL‐C], triglycerides [TG], TC/HDL‐C ratio, and TG/HDL‐C ratio)