--- title: Are eating behaviors linked to how severe a woman's PMS symptoms are? description: Yes, women with severe PMS showed different eating behaviors than those with milder symptoms, particularly in hunger and fullness recognition. However, the st url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/association-between-eating-behaviors-and-premenstrual-syndrome-severity-among-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are eating behaviors linked to how severe a woman's PMS symptoms are? Cohort study, 2026 # Are eating behaviors linked to how severe a woman's PMS symptoms are? Yes, women with severe PMS showed different eating behaviors than those with milder symptoms, particularly in hunger and fullness recognition. However, the study shows only correlation, not whether eating patterns cause PMS. Early or limited evidence 164 female university and graduate students aged 18-under 25 in Japan ## What they did Online survey of 164 female university and graduate students aged 18-under 25 in Japan. Participants reported PMS symptoms and eating behaviors. Researchers compared eating behavior scores between women with severe, moderate, and no/mild PMS. ## What they found Women with severe PMS had significantly higher total eating behavior scores than moderate or no/mild groups (Cohen's d = 0.907 and 0.886). The severe group showed higher hunger and satiety scores than moderate (d = 1.039) and no/mild (d = 0.915) groups, suggesting poor regulation of hunger and fullness signals. ## What it means for you Women with severe PMS may struggle with recognizing hunger and fullness. Foods promoting satiety or blood sugar stability might help. However, this study only shows association, not cause. We don't know if eating patterns cause PMS, if PMS changes eating, or if something else affects both. Longitudinal studies are needed. 164 female students surveyed Cohen's d 0.907 effect size for eating behavior Cohen's d 1.039 effect size for hunger/satiety ## About the study Original title Association between eating behaviors and premenstrual syndrome severity among Japanese female university students: a cross-sectional study Authors Akase Y, Yoshinari Y, Fujimori M et al. Journal PeerJ Year 2026 Study design Cohort study Participants 164 What was tested None - observational survey study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21141](https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21141) Original abstract Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects the quality of life (QOL) and daily functioning of young women. Dietary and nutritional intake are a suggested approach to alleviate PMS symptoms However, lifestyle factors of female students, such as living alone or dietary restrictions, may exacerbate PMS symptoms. This study investigated the relationship between PMS symptoms and eating behaviors among female university and graduate students, identifying dietary behavior factors that may exacerbate or alleviate these symptoms. Methods: An online survey was targeted female university and graduate students aged 18 to under 25. The questionnaire included basic information, PMS symptoms, and eating behaviors. PMS symptoms were assessed using the Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS/PMDD) Questionnaire. Eating behaviors were evaluated using the Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Eating behavior scores across PMS severity groups were compared using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey-Kramer tests. Results: Among the 164 participants, the "Severe PMS group" had a significantly higher "Total" score ( p = 0.04) than the "Moderate PMS" (Cohen's d = 0.907) and the "No/Mild PMS" (Cohen's d = 0.886) groups. And the "Severe PMS group" had a significantly higher sub-score "Hunger and satiety" on the Eating Behavior Questionnaire than the "Moderate PMS" (Cohen's d = 1.039) and the "No/Mild PMS" (Cohen's d = 0.915) groups. Conclusion: PMS severity was associated with eating behaviors, particularly hunger and satiety, suggesting that foods that promote fullness or stabilize blood sugar levels may help alleviate PMS symptoms. Addressing eating behaviors, alongside nutritional intake, may be an effective approach to managing PMS symptoms. However, establishing a causal relationship between these factors requires longitudinal research. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) 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 Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2019 What lifestyle and sleep habits are linked to PMS in teenage girls? Interview study, 2019 Which PMDD symptoms are most common in college students? Survey study, 2026 How common is PMS in Yemen and what lifestyle factors affect it? Survey study, 2026 Is PMS or PMDD linked to eating disorders? Survey study, 2026 How common is PMDD in Russian medical students, and what are its symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗