---
title: Does body image change across the menstrual cycle? | Niyora
description: Yes. Women feel significantly more dissatisfied with their bodies and more anxious about their appearance in the perimenstrual phase compared to other times o
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/body-image-changes-over-the-menstrual-cycle-in-normal-women-1994/
---

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- Does body image change across the menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 1994

# Does body image change across the menstrual cycle?

Yes. Women feel significantly more dissatisfied with their bodies and more anxious about their appearance in the perimenstrual phase compared to other times of the cycle.

 Early or limited evidence

26 women aged 18-40 with normal weight and no history of eating disorders

## What they did

Cross-sectional study where 26 women aged 18-40 completed body image measures and menstrual distress questionnaires during three menstrual phases: perimenstrual, follicular, and luteal. Hormone levels and basal body temperature confirmed which phase they were in.

## What they found

Body dissatisfaction, measured by negative thoughts about the body and appearance anxiety, was significantly highest during the perimenstrual phase. Body size perception stayed stable across phases. Menstrual symptoms like water retention, mood changes, poor concentration, and reduced sense of control during the perimenstrual phase were all linked to more body dissatisfaction.

## What it means for you

The discomfort and bloating you feel before your period contributes to feeling worse about your body during that time. This is a small study and doesn't tell us whether these changes are entirely driven by hormones or partly by expectations about how you should feel.

26

Women studied

Perimenstrual

Phase with highest body dissatisfaction

18-40 years

Age range

## About the study

Original title Body image changes over the menstrual cycle in normal women Authors Carr-Nangle RE, Johnson WG, Bergeron KC et al. Journal The International journal of eating disorders Year 1994 Study design Survey study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/1098-108x(199411)16:3 3.0.co;2-y](https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-108x(199411)16:3 3.0.co;2-y)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Eating disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-eating-disorders/)

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## Related studies

Systematic review, 2022

Do mental health disorders get worse during the menstrual cycle?

Case-control study, 2020

Do appetite hormones and eating behaviors change differently across the luteal phase in women with PMDD?

Cohort study, 2015

Do genetic influences on emotional eating change across the menstrual cycle?

Study, 2015

Does weight preoccupation change during the menstrual cycle, and what causes these changes?

Survey study, 2013

Do personality traits affect whether hormone changes cause emotional eating?

Study, 2013

Do hormone changes during the menstrual cycle cause increases in emotional eating?

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