---
title: Is there a link between weight (BMI) and the severity of PMS symptoms?
description: Yes. Higher BMI was linked to more severe emotional and behavioral PMS symptoms, though this doesn't prove weight causes PMS.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/correlation-between-premenstrual-syndrome-and-body-mass-index-among-reproductive-2023/
---

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- Is there a link between weight (BMI) and the severity of PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2023

# Is there a link between weight (BMI) and the severity of PMS symptoms?

Yes. Higher BMI was linked to more severe emotional and behavioral PMS symptoms, though this doesn't prove weight causes PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

392 reproductive-age women in Saudi Arabia

## What they did

Researchers surveyed 392 women of reproductive age in Saudi Arabia about their PMS symptoms and recorded their weight and height to calculate BMI. They looked for statistical links between BMI and symptom severity.

## What they found

77% of women reported emotional PMS symptoms and 55% reported physical symptoms. Women with higher BMI had significantly more severe emotional and behavioral PMS symptoms.

## What it means for you

Higher weight may be connected to worse emotional PMS symptoms. Weight management could be part of treating PMS, especially for women with severe symptoms. However, the study doesn't prove weight causes PMS, and results are from Saudi Arabia only, so may not apply elsewhere.

392

women studied

77%

reported emotional PMS symptoms

55%

reported physical PMS symptoms

## About the study

Original title Correlation between premenstrual syndrome and body mass index among reproductive females Authors Heba El‐Sayed Mostafa, Abdullah A Alkurdi, Mohammad Sanousi et al. Journal Medical Science Year 2023 Study design Survey study Participants 392 What was tested Weight (BMI) observed, not an intervention tested Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v27i133/e123ms2926](https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v27i133/e123ms2926)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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