---
title: Do women with PMDD have different eating and body changes across their menstrual cycle?
description: Both groups experience the same pattern. Women eat more, gain weight, and retain water during the second half and start of the cycle. There is no difference b
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-on-the-changes-of-energy-intake-and-2005/
---

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- Do women with PMDD have different eating and body changes across their menstrual cycle?

Study, 2005

# Do women with PMDD have different eating and body changes across their menstrual cycle?

Both groups experience the same pattern. Women eat more, gain weight, and retain water during the second half and start of the cycle. There is no difference between women with PMDD and those without symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

24 women in South Korea, with and without PMDD

## What they did

Researchers followed 24 women for 4 weeks. Half had PMDD, half had no premenstrual symptoms. They recorded everything the women ate and measured their weight and body composition at different times during the menstrual cycle.

## What they found

Both groups ate more total food, more carbohydrates, and more protein during the luteal and menstrual phases compared to the follicular phase. Weight increased during the luteal and menstrual phases in both groups. Body water increased during the luteal and menstrual phases in both groups. Body fat increased during the luteal phase in both groups. All of these patterns were identical in the PMDD group and the symptom-free group.

## What it means for you

The menstrual cycle naturally changes how much women eat and causes weight gain and water retention in all women, regardless of whether they have PMDD. This is a small study from one country that only observed what happened, it did not test any treatment. The study does not explain why these changes occur.

24

women studied

4 weeks

duration

2

groups compared

## About the study

Original title Effects of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder on the Changes of Energy Intake and Body Composition Authors 장은재, 김동건 Journal Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Year 2005 Study design Study Read the paper [doi.org/10.3746/jkfn.2005.34.2.190](https://doi.org/10.3746/jkfn.2005.34.2.190)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)

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