Case-control study, 2000
Do eating habits change differently before the period in obese versus non-obese women?
Yes. Both groups show increases in binge-eating symptoms before their period, but the cause differs: in non-obese women, eating changes correlate with mood symptoms, while in obese women they correlate with physical symptoms.
What they did
Case-control study of 107 obese women and 93 non-obese control women. Researchers used both retrospective questionnaires (looking back at patterns) and prospective daily logs to track eating behavior, physical complaints, and mood symptoms throughout the menstrual cycle.
What they found
Binge-eating symptom scores increased in the premenstrual phase in both groups: in obese women, 6.2 ± 5.3 before menstruation versus 4.9 ± 4.4 after (p < 0.05); in controls, 4.9 ± 4.1 before versus 4.2 ± 3.0 after (p < 0.05). In non-obese women, eating symptom scores correlated with premenstrual complaints (r = 0.5; p < 0.05), but in obese women this correlation was weak (r = 0.2; not significant). In obese women, physical and psychological symptoms were closely related.
What it means for you
Premenstrual eating changes occur in all women studied, but the connection to other symptoms differs between groups. In obese women, eating changes may reflect physical discomfort more than mood changes. Treatments might need to target eating behaviors specifically in obese women, rather than focusing only on mood.
107
obese women studied
6.2 vs 4.9
binge score premenstrual vs postmenstrual
93
non-obese control women
About the study
- Original title
- Eating attitudes and behavior throughout the menstrual cycle in obese women: a case-control study
- Authors
- Zucchi T, Mannucci E, Ricca V et al.
- Journal
- Eating and weight disorders : EWD
- Year
- 2000
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 107
- What was tested
- None. This is an observational study.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/bf03353435
Topics
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