Healthy Midlife and Menopause: Finding Appropriate Nutritional and Behavioral Health Interventions

Hot flashes, insomnia and mood swings are some of the symptoms women experience during the menopause transition. However, in today's anti-aging and nutritionally sensationalized world, the pressure and distress of weight and body changes, often when a woman's identity and life itself are changing, can pave the path for the development of pathological eating problems and other health consequences.

Registered dietitian nutritionists are often the first point of contact for women concerned about menopause and midlife weight gain. Understanding the complex web of aging, fluctuating hormones and diet cycling on a woman's body can be helpful for RDNs to differentiate between what is pathological and what is normal, and help women make informed decisions to improve their overall health.

This session will focus on medical nutrition therapy and behavioral health intervention strategies for dietitians to understand the importance of collaboration with a multidisciplinary healthcare team. The presenters will help RDNs translate research from the fields of menopause, weight management and eating disorders into practical and realistic nutrition and lifestyle interventions to help women manage symptoms, resolve their distress, and improve health outcomes in midlife and beyond.

CPE Level: Level 2
CPEU: 1.0

Performance Indicators

• 9.6.1 Determines and applies counseling theories, psychological methods and strategies that empower customers to make changes.
• 2.2.4 Collaborates with others when the required skill is beyond his/her competence.
• 8.1.4 Demonstrates knowledge of nutrient requirements throughout the life span and their role in health promotion and disease management.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the stages of menopause and differentiate the effect of changing hormones, aging, lifestyle, and dieting on a woman's physical and emotional well-being.
• Summarize evidence-based medical nutrition therapy and behavioral health strategies that reduce disease risk and improve health outcomes for peri- and postmenopausal women.
• Apply appropriate therapeutic interventions that are within the scope of dietetic practice and recognize how to work with a multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals.

Speakers

• Laura McLain
• Val Schonberg