Survey study, 2014
Does how stressed women feel after eating behavior change based on menstrual cycle status?
Yes, in women with anorexia nervosa. Those with regular menstrual cycles felt less stressed after skipping meals, while those with irregular cycles felt more stressed. This suggests hormonal status affects how eating behaviors connect to stress.
What they did
109 women aged 17 to 45 with anorexia nervosa reported their eating behaviors and stress levels multiple times over 2 weeks. Researchers compared women who had regular menstrual cycles to those with irregular cycles or no periods.
What they found
After skipping meals, stress levels changed differently based on menstrual status. Women with regular menstrual cycles reported decreased stress following meal skipping, while women with irregular or no menstrual cycles reported increased stress. These different patterns may explain why eating disorder behaviors persist differently depending on hormonal status.
What it means for you
Ovarian hormones appear to influence how the brain responds to food restriction, which could affect how eating disorder behaviors are maintained. This study was done only in women with anorexia nervosa, so findings may not apply to women without eating disorders or to other eating disorder types.
109
women with anorexia nervosa
17-45
age range
2 weeks
study duration
About the study
- Original title
- Stress and eating disorder behavior in anorexia nervosa as a function of menstrual cycle status
- Authors
- Jappe LM, Cao L, Crosby RD et al.
- Journal
- The International journal of eating disorders
- Year
- 2014
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1002/eat.22211
Topics
Related studies
Review, 2000
What conditions beyond depression can antidepressants treat?
Survey study, 2023
What factors most influence PMS severity in college students?
Survey study, 2023
How do eating habits change during the menstrual cycle in women with PMS?
Review, 2021
Why do periods stop when you're stressed or eating poorly?
Survey study, 2021
Are premenstrual symptoms linked to stress and poor quality of life in female students?
Review, 2020
Can not eating enough or overexercising stop your period?