Study, 2015
Does weight preoccupation change during the menstrual cycle, and what causes these changes?
Yes, weight preoccupation is highest in the premenstrual and menstrual phases. However, hormones are not the main cause. Emotional eating is the strongest predictor of when women worry more about weight during the cycle.
What they did
Recruited 352 women aged 15-25. For 45 consecutive days, women recorded their weight preoccupation, negative feelings, and emotional eating every day. Saliva samples were also collected daily to measure hormones estradiol and progesterone.
What they found
Weight preoccupation varied significantly across the menstrual cycle, with highest levels in the premenstrual and menstrual phases. Ovarian hormones did not explain these changes. Instead, changes in emotional eating were the strongest predictor of weight preoccupation changes during the cycle.
What it means for you
Weight preoccupation fluctuates with the menstrual cycle but not because of hormones. When women eat emotionally, they worry more about weight. This helps explain eating concerns during different phases. However, the study measured thoughts about weight rather than actual eating, so we don't know if worrying more leads to eating differently.
352
women studied
45
days of daily tracking
15-25
age range
About the study
- Original title
- The effects of ovarian hormones and emotional eating on changes in weight preoccupation across the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Hildebrandt BA, Racine SE, Keel PK et al.
- Journal
- The International journal of eating disorders
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 352
- What was tested
- None (observational study tracking daily patterns)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1002/eat.22326
Topics
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