---
title: How are eating disorders and premenstrual symptoms connected?
description: Eating disorder and premenstrual symptoms are linked in ways beyond their individual effects on eating. Specific symptoms like body dissatisfaction, calorie c
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/understanding-comorbidity-between-eating-disorder-and-premenstrual-symptoms-2023/
---

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- How are eating disorders and premenstrual symptoms connected?

Study, 2023

# How are eating disorders and premenstrual symptoms connected?

Eating disorder and premenstrual symptoms are linked in ways beyond their individual effects on eating. Specific symptoms like body dissatisfaction, calorie counting, and negative emotions connect the two.

 Moderate study design

Young adult women

## What they did

A study of young adult women measured eating disorder symptoms using one questionnaire and premenstrual symptoms using another. Researchers used network analysis to see which symptoms were central to each condition and which symptoms linked the two together.

## What they found

In eating disorder networks, body dissatisfaction and calorie counting were core features. In premenstrual networks, symptoms that interfered with daily life and negative emotions were central. Symptoms connecting both conditions were eating behaviors, interference with daily activities, joint and muscle pain, and negative emotions from hormones.

## What it means for you

Eating disorders and premenstrual symptoms share underlying causes beyond their separate effects. Hormones may affect both eating behaviors and mood in similar ways. The study was large but is limited because it is cross-sectional (a snapshot in time) with no control group.

4

bridge symptom categories identified

## About the study

Original title Understanding comorbidity between eating disorder and premenstrual symptoms using a network analysis approach Authors Finch JE, Xu Z, Baker JH Journal Appetite Year 2023 Study design Study What was tested None - survey study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2022.106410](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2022.106410)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Eating disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-eating-disorders/)

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Do eating habits change differently before the period in obese versus non-obese women?

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