Survey study, 2026
Is PMS or PMDD linked to eating disorders?
Yes. Women with PMDD had higher scores for eating disorders, emotional eating, and uncontrolled eating than women without PMS. The link between PMDD and emotional eating was strongest in overweight women.
What they did
Cross-sectional study with 290 female university students in Iran in 2022. Participants completed questionnaires about PMS symptoms, eating attitudes, and eating behaviors including emotional and uncontrolled eating.
What they found
162 women (55.86%) had moderate to severe PMS, and 47 (16.21% of all, 29.01% of PMS group) also had dysmenorrhea. Eating disorder scores increased with PMS severity: mild PMS 6.18, moderate or severe PMS 8.49, PMDD 9.66. Emotional eating increased from no or mild PMS (6.05) to PMDD (7.17). Uncontrolled eating increased from mild PMS (19.30) to PMDD (22.15). After accounting for other factors, overweight women with PMDD showed much higher emotional eating.
What it means for you
Severe PMS and PMDD are linked to eating more when emotional and eating without control. The link is especially strong in overweight women. The study is one point in time with university students only, so results may not apply to all women.
55.86%
had moderate to severe PMS
7.17
mean emotional eating score in PMDD group
22.15
mean uncontrolled eating score in PMDD group
About the study
- Original title
- Relationship between Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and Eating Disorders
- Authors
- Mahbobeh Faramarzi, Angela Hamidia, Najmeh Hoseini et al.
- Journal
- Journal of Nutrition and Food Security
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 290
- What was tested
- None assessed
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.18502/jnfs.v11i3.22153
Topics
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