---
title: Is eating disturbance linked to worse PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes, women with eating disturbances were more likely to have PMS symptoms and more severe physical PMS symptoms.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/association-between-premenstrual-syndrome-and-eating-disturbance-in-college-2024/
---

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- Is eating disturbance linked to worse PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2024

# Is eating disturbance linked to worse PMS symptoms?

Yes, women with eating disturbances were more likely to have PMS symptoms and more severe physical PMS symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

Female college students in Japan

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of female college students in Japan using an online questionnaire about PMS symptoms and eating behaviors.

## What they found

Women with eating disturbances had significantly higher rates of PMS symptoms. Those with physical PMS symptoms had higher scores on measures related to restrictive diet, bulimia, and food preoccupation.

## What it means for you

Eating patterns and PMS severity appear linked, even in people of normal weight. The study doesn't prove cause and effect, and included only college students in Japan, so findings may not apply to other groups.

## About the study

Original title Association between premenstrual syndrome and eating disturbance in college students: a cross-sectional study Authors Yoshinari Y, Morino S, Shinohara Y et al. Journal BMC women's health Year 2024 Study design Survey study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03158-0](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03158-0) Original abstract

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a severe problem in women, and a well-balanced diet helps improve PMS symptoms. Eating disturbances are a major health problem in young women. Limited research has explored the correlation between eating behaviors and PMS symptoms in Japan. This study aimed to compare eating disturbances and the severity of PMS symptoms in college students. Methods: This study was conducted among female college students using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included basic information (age, height, and weight), PMS symptoms, and eating behaviors assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test 26. Results: The proportion of those with PMS symptoms who were disturbed by PMS symptoms was significantly higher in the group with eating disturbance. Those who were affected by the physical symptoms of PMS had significantly higher scores on the subscales related to diet, bulimia and food preoccupation. Conclusion: The results showed an association between PMS symptom severity and eating disturbance. The findings of this study indicate that individuals with eating disturbances may experience adverse effects on PMS symptoms, even in cases where weight is not at the extremes of excessive underweight or obesity.

Reproduced under CC-BY.

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[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/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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