Survey study, 1988
Do women crave sweets before their period, and is it linked to mood changes?
Yes, food cravings around the period are real and cyclical in most women. However, they are not linked to mood changes or mood severity.
What they did
76 women with a mean age of 35.7 years who reported craving sweet foods before their period were tracked prospectively over two menstrual cycles. They completed questionnaires about cravings, mood, irritability, and breast tenderness.
What they found
In 72% of the women, a perimenstrual pattern of food craving was confirmed. In 13%, craving was confined to the menstrual phase only. There was no consistent association between food craving and mood change in timing or severity. Women with more severe mood change did not report more severe craving. There was also no association between food craving and cyclical breast tenderness.
What it means for you
Food cravings before your period are a real, separate cyclical pattern. They appear to happen independently of mood changes. The study only included women who already reported having premenstrual cravings, so it may not describe the general population.
76
women studied
72%
showed perimenstrual craving pattern
13%
craving in menstrual phase only
About the study
- Original title
- Food craving, mood and the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Bancroft J, Cook A, Williamson L
- Journal
- Psychological medicine
- Year
- 1988
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Tracking daily ratings over two menstrual cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1017/s003329170000979x
Topics
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