--- title: Do overweight or obese women have worse PMS than normal weight women? description: Yes. Overweight and obese women reported significantly more pain and mood-related PMS symptoms compared to normal weight women. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-study-on-premenstrual-syndrome-pms-nutrient-intake-psychological-index-2011/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do overweight or obese women have worse PMS than normal weight women? Survey study, 2011 # Do overweight or obese women have worse PMS than normal weight women? Yes. Overweight and obese women reported significantly more pain and mood-related PMS symptoms compared to normal weight women. Early or limited evidence 113 college women (85 normal weight, 28 overweight or obese) ## What they did College women were divided into two groups by weight. 85 were normal weight and 28 were overweight or obese. All completed a questionnaire rating their PMS symptoms. ## What they found In normal weight women, water retention was the most severe PMS symptom (2.71 on a rating scale), followed by behavioral changes (2.58), mood changes (2.46), and pain (2.31). Women who were overweight or obese had significantly higher scores for pain and behavioral change. Women who ate more calcium and B6 had fewer concentration problems during their cycle. Depression, anxiety, and stress were linked to various PMS symptoms. ## What it means for you Weight may play a role in how severe certain PMS symptoms are, particularly pain and mood changes. Calcium and B6, and managing stress, may help reduce symptoms. Main limitations: small sample, college women only, unequal group sizes, and cross-sectional design (cannot prove cause and effect). 85 normal weight 28 overweight or obese 2.71 water retention severity (highest) ## About the study Original title A Study on Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Nutrient Intake, Psychological Index according to the Obesity Degree of College Women Authors Se-Na Kang, Jung‐Hwa Park, Hye‐Jin Hwang Journal 대한지역사회영양학회지 Year 2011 Study design Survey study Participants 85 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2011.16.1.14](https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2011.16.1.14) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Calcium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-calcium/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2021 Does hypnotherapy reduce pain and emotional distress in women with PMDD? Survey study, 2025 What factors are linked to PMS in female graduate students? Survey study, 2022 Did COVID-19 stress worsen period pain and PMS symptoms in female medical students? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2025 Do menstrual problems and poor sleep affect mood and thinking in teenage girls? Cohort study, 2025 What causes migraine in female college students who have PMS? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗