---
title: Does weight and body composition affect the risk of PMS? | Niyora
description: Yes, but in a surprising direction. Women with lower BMI had PMS more often than women with higher BMI. Women with PMS also had more muscle and water and less
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-relationship-between-body-mass-index-body-composition-and-premenstrual-2019/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does weight and body composition affect the risk of PMS?

Case-control study, 2019

# Does weight and body composition affect the risk of PMS?

Yes, but in a surprising direction. Women with lower BMI had PMS more often than women with higher BMI. Women with PMS also had more muscle and water and less body fat.

 Moderate study design

476 women aged 18, including 233 with PMS and 243 without PMS

## What they did

Researchers studied 476 women aged 18 divided into two groups: 233 with PMS and 243 without PMS. During the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, they measured height, weight, and body composition using bioelectrical impedance to calculate BMI and fat and muscle percentages.

## What they found

Women with normal BMI under 25 had PMS twice as often as women with BMI 25 or higher (68.2% versus 31.8%). Women with PMS had significantly higher muscle mass and body water and lower fat mass than women without PMS.

## What it means for you

This is surprising because women with lower body fat have PMS more often. However, this is observational and cannot prove body composition causes PMS. The finding needs confirmation in other studies.

68.2%

PMS in BMI less than 25

31.8%

PMS in BMI 25 or higher

twice

rate of PMS in normal BMI

## About the study

Original title The relationship between body mass index, body composition and premenstrual syndrome prevalence in girls Authors Mizgier M, Jarzabek-Bielecka G, Jakubek E et al. Journal Ginekologia polska Year 2019 Study design Case-control study Participants 243 What was tested No intervention - observational measurement of body composition Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.5603/gp.2019.0048](https://doi.org/10.5603/gp.2019.0048)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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

Study, 2026

What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms?

Systematic review, 2026

What life experiences and personal factors influence how severe PMS is?

Survey study, 2025

What psychological and personal factors predict which university students will develop premenstrual syndrome?

Survey study, 2024

Does poor sleep and period problems affect teen mental health?

Survey study, 2022

Is premenstrual syndrome related to aggression in adolescent girls?

Survey study, 2022

Does regular exercise reduce period symptoms?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗