--- title: Do women with PMDD crave high-sugar and high-fat foods more than other women? description: Yes. Women with PMDD had higher cravings for sweet, fatty foods, especially during the luteal phase. This was linked to their greater sensitivity to food rewa url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-high-sweet-fat-food-craving-among-women-with-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2010/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD crave high-sugar and high-fat foods more than other women? Case-control study, 2010 # Do women with PMDD crave high-sugar and high-fat foods more than other women? Yes. Women with PMDD had higher cravings for sweet, fatty foods, especially during the luteal phase. This was linked to their greater sensitivity to food rewards and emotional response to food. Moderate study design 59 women with untreated PMDD and 60 control women ## What they did This case-control study compared 59 women with untreated PMDD to 60 control women without PMDD. Researchers measured food craving, emotional response to different foods, and reward sensitivity during both the luteal phase (before menstruation) and follicular phase (after menstruation). ## What they found Both PMDD and the luteal phase were linked to higher body mass index. High-sweet-fat food provoked higher craving and positive emotional response. Women with PMDD had higher reward sensitivity, emotional response, and craving for high-sweet-fat foods than control women. Reward sensitivity was associated with emotional response, which was associated with food craving. ## What it means for you Women with PMDD may have stronger food reward responses and emotional reactions to sweet, fatty foods, leading to more intense cravings. The study only included women with untreated PMDD, so results may not apply to women receiving PMDD treatment. 59 women with PMDD 60 control women ## About the study Original title The high-sweet-fat food craving among women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: emotional response, implicit attitude and rewards sensitivity Authors Yen JY, Chang SJ, Ko CH et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2010 Study design Case-control study Participants 59 What was tested Assessment of food craving, emotional response, and reward sensitivity Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.02.006](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.02.006) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Eating disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-eating-disorders/)[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 Case-control study, 1997 Are PMDD and eating disorders related? Case-control study, 2018 Do women with PMDD crave different foods than healthy women? Survey study, 2023 What percentage of women aged 20-35 have PMS symptoms and what types are most common? Survey study, 2021 Is disordered eating more common in women with PMDD? Survey study, 2012 Do women with PMS eat more food before their period? Survey study, 2002 How common is premenstrual dysphoric disorder among women in Morocco? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗