Skip to content

Survey study, 2017

Is weight linked to PMS in adolescent girls?

Yes, girls with healthier weight had lower PMS rates (64%) compared to overweight girls (94.1%), underweight girls (81.4%), or obese girls (91.7%). But this only shows a link, not that weight causes PMS.

Early or limited evidence 150 unmarried adolescent girls aged 11-21 years

What they did

Surveyed 150 unmarried adolescent girls aged 11-21 years about PMS symptoms and measured their weight and BMI.

What they found

Overall, 78.7% of adolescents had PMS. Most girls (39.3%) were underweight. PMS prevalence was highest in overweight girls at 94.1%, lowest in girls with healthy weight at 64%, and high in underweight girls at 81.4% and obese girls at 91.7%.

What it means for you

Maintaining healthy weight may help prevent PMS. However, this is an observational study showing only association, not causation. It was done in one country and needs confirmation in other populations.

150

adolescent girls studied

78.7%

overall PMS prevalence

94.1%

PMS rate in overweight girls

About the study

Original title
Association between the Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and Weight Status of Adolescent Girls (11-21years)
Authors
Rabbia Ashfaq
Journal
Advances in Obesity Weight Management & Control
Year
2017
Study design
Survey study
What was tested
None; observational study

Topics