ABSTRACT
Menopause is the most striking event occurring during middle age in women and represents the end of women's reproductive life. Menopause is due to decreased estrogen levels and disruption of hormonal cycle associated with ovulation. Menopause is associated with both physiological and psychological changes which has an impact on the nutritional status. Due to the changes, women experience  variety of symptoms which range from mild to severe. The overall wellbeing during menopause is highly related to their nutrition, lifestyle, physical exercise and positive attitude towards menopause A cross -sectional study was  conducted among 750 women between 35 to 55years who were attending the Out Patient department of SDM Medical college and Hospital Dharwad, (OPD). Nutritional status was assessed and the climacteric symptoms were classified  systematically to identify the onset of menopause. The prevalence of overweight was high i.e.44.8 to 55.9% and13to18% of the subjects were obese in the study population. There was a marked increase in per cent occurrence of central obesity. Women experienced a variety of symptoms, so an attempt was made to classify  them systematically based on the highest and lowest rate of occurrence and are presented as Constant Symptoms, Usual Symptoms, Occasional Symptoms and Other Symptoms which appears to be a useful tool to identify the onset of menopause.