---
title: Is weight linked to PMS in adolescent girls? | Niyora
description: Yes, girls with healthier weight had lower PMS rates (64%) compared to overweight girls (94.1%), underweight girls (81.4%), or obese girls (91.7%). But this o
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/association-between-the-prevalence-of-premenstrual-syndrome-and-weight-status-of-2017/
---

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- Is weight linked to PMS in adolescent girls?

Survey study, 2017

# Is weight linked to PMS in adolescent girls?

Yes, girls with healthier weight had lower PMS rates (64%) compared to overweight girls (94.1%), underweight girls (81.4%), or obese girls (91.7%). But this only shows a link, not that weight causes PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

150 unmarried adolescent girls aged 11-21 years

## What they did

Surveyed 150 unmarried adolescent girls aged 11-21 years about PMS symptoms and measured their weight and BMI.

## What they found

Overall, 78.7% of adolescents had PMS. Most girls (39.3%) were underweight. PMS prevalence was highest in overweight girls at 94.1%, lowest in girls with healthy weight at 64%, and high in underweight girls at 81.4% and obese girls at 91.7%.

## What it means for you

Maintaining healthy weight may help prevent PMS. However, this is an observational study showing only association, not causation. It was done in one country and needs confirmation in other populations.

150

adolescent girls studied

78.7%

overall PMS prevalence

94.1%

PMS rate in overweight girls

## About the study

Original title Association between the Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and Weight Status of Adolescent Girls (11-21years) Authors Rabbia Ashfaq Journal Advances in Obesity Weight Management & Control Year 2017 Study design Survey study What was tested None; observational study Read the paper [doi.org/10.15406/aowmc.2017.06.00140](https://doi.org/10.15406/aowmc.2017.06.00140)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[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.

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