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Survey study, 2025

Do female athletes have lower PMS than female non-athletes?

Yes. Female athletes had noticeably lower PMS and night eating syndrome compared to female non-athletes.

Moderate study design 400 female university students from four universities, 200 athletes and 200 non-athletes

What they did

Cross-sectional study comparing 200 female athletes (mean age 21.49) and 200 female non-athletes (mean age 20.96) from four universities. Measured PMS and night eating syndrome using questionnaires.

What they found

Female non-athletes showed noticeably greater PMS and night eating syndrome compared to athletes. Higher PMS symptoms were linked to more night eating in both groups.

What it means for you

This suggests sports participation may be associated with lower PMS. However, this is a cross-sectional study so we cannot prove sports reduces PMS. Women with less severe PMS may simply be more likely to become athletes. Study included only university students.

200

female athletes

200

female non-athletes

21.49

mean age of athletes (years)

About the study

Original title
Sports Participation to Combat Premenstrual Syndrome and Night Eating Syndrome and Its Correlations among Undergraduate Female Varsity Students
Authors
Mahnoor Naeem, Asif Ali, Muhammad Usama et al.
Journal
Human Nature Journal of Social Sciences
Year
2025
Study design
Survey study
Participants
400
What was tested
Sports participation - observational comparison
Open access
Yes

Topics