---
title: Does body weight affect the risk of developing PMS? | Niyora
description: Yes. Higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased PMS risk. Each 1 kg/m² increase in BMI was linked to a 3% increase in PMS risk.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/adiposity-and-the-development-of-premenstrual-syndrome-2010/
---

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- Does body weight affect the risk of developing PMS?

Case-control study, 2010

# Does body weight affect the risk of developing PMS?

Yes. Higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased PMS risk. Each 1 kg/m² increase in BMI was linked to a 3% increase in PMS risk.

 Moderate study design

1057 women aged 27-44 who developed PMS and 1968 control women from Nurses' Health Study 2

## What they did

Prospective study within Nurses' Health Study 2. Women aged 27-44 without PMS at baseline were followed for 10 years. Researchers tracked 1057 women who developed PMS and 1968 control women, measuring BMI every 2 years by questionnaire.

## What they found

Strong linear relationship between BMI and PMS risk. Each 1 kg/m² increase in BMI associated with 3% increase in risk (95% CI 1.01-1.05). Women with BMI ≥27.5 kg/m² had significantly higher risk than those with BMI <20 kg/m² (p=0.003). Higher BMI was linked to swelling of extremities, backache, and abdominal cramping (all p<0.001). Large weight change between age 18 and 1991 was associated with higher PMS risk, but weight cycling was not.

## What it means for you

Maintaining healthy weight may help prevent PMS. However, the study shows only that heavier weight is linked to PMS risk, not that losing weight would help women who already have PMS. Study was limited to nurses in the US.

3%

increase in PMS risk per 1 kg/m² increase in BMI

≥27.5 vs <20

BMI values with significantly higher PMS risk

10 years

length of follow-up

## About the study

Original title Adiposity and the development of premenstrual syndrome Authors Bertone-Johnson ER, Hankinson SE, Willett WC et al. Journal Journal of women's health (2002) Year 2010 Study design Case-control study Participants 1,057 What was tested Body weight Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2010.2128](https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2010.2128)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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