---
title: Do women with PMS experience bigger appetite changes during their cycle than other women?
description: Yes. Both groups had increased appetite before their period, but women with PMS had much stronger appetite increases. In PMS women, increased appetite was lin
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-phase-related-changes-in-appetite-in-patients-with-premenstrual-1988/
---

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- Do women with PMS experience bigger appetite changes during their cycle than other women?

Cohort study, 1988

# Do women with PMS experience bigger appetite changes during their cycle than other women?

Yes. Both groups had increased appetite before their period, but women with PMS had much stronger appetite increases. In PMS women, increased appetite was linked to depressed mood.

 Moderate study design

21 women with PMS and 13 control women

## What they did

21 women with PMS and 13 control women reported their appetite across their menstrual cycle. Researchers tracked any mood changes too.

## What they found

Both groups had significant appetite increases with a greater menstrual cycle effect in the PMS group. In PMS women only, the premenstrual appetite increase was highly correlated with depression.

## What it means for you

Appetite changes in PMS may be tied to mood changes. The control group was small, which limits how much we can generalize these findings to all women.

21

women with PMS

13

control women

## About the study

Original title Menstrual cycle phase-related changes in appetite in patients with premenstrual syndrome and in control subjects Authors Both-Orthman B, Rubinow DR, Hoban MC et al. Journal The American journal of psychiatry Year 1988 Study design Cohort study Participants 21 What was tested None - this was an observational study, not a treatment trial Read the paper [doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.5.628](https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.5.628)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)

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## Related studies

Systematic review, 2026

Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms?

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Are low antioxidant vitamins or high oxidative stress linked to premenstrual syndrome?

Survey study, 2016

Is PMS or PMDD linked to eating disorders like bulimia and binge eating?

Randomised trial, 2011

Does a birth control pill reduce negative emotions, food cravings, and water retention in women with PMDD?

Review, 2001

What causes PMS and PMDD, and how are they treated?

Review, 1997

Does appetite and food cravings change during the menstrual cycle, especially in women with PMS?

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