--- title: Do women with PMS actually gain weight or bloat, or is it just how they feel? description: Women with PMS report feeling bloated during the premenstrual phase, but actual body weight and body measurements do not increase. The sensation appears to be url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-weight-abdominal-swelling-and-perceived-body-image-1984/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMS actually gain weight or bloat, or is it just how they feel? Study, 1984 # Do women with PMS actually gain weight or bloat, or is it just how they feel? Women with PMS report feeling bloated during the premenstrual phase, but actual body weight and body measurements do not increase. The sensation appears to be a change in how women perceive their bodies, not an actual physical change. Moderate study design 52 women studied over 148 menstrual cycles ## What they did Researchers studied 52 women over 148 menstrual cycles. In each cycle they measured daily mood, body weight, and hormone levels. They measured the width and depth of the abdomen at two locations (at the belly button and 10 cm below) and asked women to estimate their own body measurements at the same places. ## What they found Mood scores showed a marked increase during the premenstrual phase. Women reported marked bloatedness during the premenstrual phase. Despite these marked bloatedness reports, there was no increase in body weight or actual body measurements. Women's perception of their body size did increase during the premenstrual phase, and there was a clear difference between how big they thought they were and how big they actually were. ## What it means for you The feeling of bloating in PMS may reflect how women perceive their bodies rather than actual physical swelling. This could help explain why some PMS symptoms feel so real even when physical measurements show no change. The study was limited to 52 women, so the findings may not apply equally to all women. 52 women 148 menstrual cycles studied ## About the study Original title Premenstrual syndrome: weight, abdominal swelling, and perceived body image Authors Faratian B, Gaspar A, O'Brien PM et al. Journal American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Year 1984 Study design Study Participants 52 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9378(84)80016-2](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9378(84)80016-2) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2011 How common is PMS in working women, and do they know about it? Survey study, 1999 How much do premenstrual symptoms affect women's work and daily life? Survey study, 1998 How common is PMS and what treatments do women use? Survey study, 2024 Does knowing about Ayurvedic yoga make teenage girls more interested in practicing it for PMS? Survey study, 2023 Is there a link between PMS symptoms and how the nervous system controls heart rate? Survey study, 2023 What symptoms does PMS cause and how common is severe PMS? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗