Survey study, 2025
Is emotional eating linked to PMS in university women?
Yes. Female students with PMS, especially those with mood and behavior symptoms, were more likely to eat in response to emotions rather than hunger. Students without PMS were less likely to do this.
What they did
Researchers surveyed 450 female university students in Palestine. They asked about emotional eating, physical activity, diet quality, and PMS symptoms using standard questionnaires.
What they found
Students with more severe PMS symptoms were significantly more likely to report emotional eating, particularly those with mood and behavior changes. The link was strongest for mood and behavior PMS symptoms. Students without PMS reported the least emotional eating. However, emotional eating was not linked to weight, lifestyle factors, or overall diet quality.
What it means for you
PMS may increase the tendency to eat in response to emotions. However, this is a cross-sectional study, so we cannot tell whether PMS causes emotional eating or emotional eating worsens PMS. Understanding this connection could help develop better ways to support women with PMS.
450
Female university students surveyed
About the study
- Original title
- Emotional eating is associated with premenstrual syndrome among university students in Palestine: A cross-sectional study
- Authors
- Wafa RAA, Abed MT, Jaber M et al.
- Journal
- Women's health (London, England)
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 450
- What was tested
- None. This was a survey study.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1177/17455057251401811
Topics
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